Detecting simulated cognitive impairment with MMPI-2 neurocorrection scales
This study provides the first evidence that special neurocorrection scales of the second edition of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2; Butcher, Graham, Tellegan, & Kaemmer, 1989) are superior to the Fake Bad Scale (FBS; Lees-Haley, Dunn, & English, 1991) at differentiating traumatic brain injury (TBI) simulators compared to controls. Two groups of undergraduate psychology students were assigned to either a TBI simulator (n = 15) or control group (n = 17). Simulators were instructed to answer the MMPI-2 items within the context of simulating late effects of a mild-to-moderate head in while pursuing financial compensation through litigation. A sample of community TBI patients (n = 22) was used as a comparison group. Results indicated that the Alfano et al. (1993) neurocorrection scale was clinically sensitive to TBI simulation (d = 3.3), and superior to the FBS (d = 1.8) compared to student controls. The Alfano scale achieved a sensitivity rate of 86.7\% compared to 73.3\% for the FBS. Specificity for the Alfano scale was 94.1\% for an overall hit rate of 90.6\%. The FBS achieved a specificity rate of 82.4\% with a total hit rate of 78.1\%. The neurocorrection scales were not effective at differentiating TBI simulators from community TBI patients. Limitations include small sample size and significant age differences between simulators and community TBI patients. The sample was skewed toward females (66\%) and Caucasians (95\%). Future studies should consider applying the neurocorrection scales in known-group studies investigating TBI simulation. The validity of MMPI-2 results in neuropsychological contexts is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved)
https://www.upress.umn.edu/test-division/bibliography/2000-2009/2006/dukarm_detecting_2006
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Paul D Dukarm
(2006)
Detecting simulated cognitive impairment with MMPI-2 neurocorrection scales
PhD thesis.