title: A New Index for the MMPI-2 Test for Detecting Dissimulation in Forensic Evaluations: A Pilot Study.
abstract: This pilot study is the starting point of a potentially broad research project aimed at identifying new strategies for assessing malingering during forensic evaluations. The forensic group was comprised of 67 males who were seeking some sort of certification (e.g., adoption, child custody, driver's license, issuance of gun permits, etc.); the nonforensic group was comprised of 62 healthy male volunteers. Each participant was administered the MMPI-2. Statistical analyses were conducted on obtained scores of 48 MMPI-2 scales. In the first step, parametric statistics were adopted to identify the best combination of MMPI-2 scales that differentiated the two groups of participants. In the second step, frequency-based, nonparametric methods were used for diagnostic purposes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A model that utilized the best three predictors ("7-Pt", "L," and "1-Hs") was developed and used to calculate the Forensic Evaluation Dissimulation Index (FEDI), which features satisfactory diagnostic accuracy (0.9), sensitivity (0.82), specificity (0.81), and likelihood ratio indices (LR+ = 4.32; LR- = 0.22).
authors: Department of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesaze, Bari, Italy.
authors: Vito
authors: V
authors: Martino
authors: Department of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesaze, Bari, Italy.
authors: Ignazio
authors: I
authors: Grattagliano
authors: Department of Educational Science Psychology and Communication, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesaze, Bari, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Bosco
authors: Department of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesaze, Bari, Italy.
authors: Ylenia
authors: Y
authors: Massaro
authors: Department of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesaze, Bari, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Lisi
authors: Department of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesaze, Bari, Italy.
authors: Filippo
authors: F
authors: Campobasso
authors: Department of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesaze, Bari, Italy.
authors: Maria Alessia
authors: MA
authors: Marchitelli
authors: Department of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesaze, Bari, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Catanesi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: MMPI-2; dissimulation; forensic evaluation; forensic science; mental disorder; psychodiagnostic instruments