Cross-validation of the MMPI-2 in detecting malingered posttraumatic stress disorder.
We attempted to cross-validate findings from a previous study (Elhai, Gold, Sellers, & Dorfman, in press) using a clinical sample of combat-related war veterans to distinguish genuine from malingered posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the MMPI-2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989). The MMPI-2 scores of 124 male combat war veterans at the PTSD outpatient treatment program of a Veterans Affairs Medical Center were compared with those of 84 adult college students instructed and trained to malinger PTSD. MMPI-2 overreporting variables examined were F, F-Fb, F-K, F(p), Ds2, O-S, OT, and FBS. A stepwise discriminant analysis identified F. F-Fb, F-K, Ds2, O-S, and OT as the best malingering predictors. A predictive discriminant analysis yielded good hit rates for the model with impressive cross-validation results. We assessed cutting scores for the predictors of the model. We discuss clinical implications for using the MMPI-2 to distinguish malingered PTSD from combat-related PTSD.
Elhai
J D
JD
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, USA.
Gold
P B
PB
Frueh
B C
BC
Gold
S N
SN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*