This research examined whether military service members’ deployment-related trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms and experiential avoidance are associated with their observed levels of positive social engagement, social withdrawal, reactivity-coercion, and distress avoidance during postdeployment family interaction. Self reports of deployment related trauma, postdeployment PTSD symptoms and experiential avoidance were collected from 184 men who were deployed to the Middle East conflicts, were partnered, and had a child between 4 and 13 years of age. Video samples of parent-child and partner problem solving and conversations about deployment issues were collected, and were rated by trained observers to assess service members’ positive engagement, social withdrawal, reactivity-coercion, and distress avoidance, as well as spouse and child negative affect and behavior. Service members’ experiential avoidance was reliably associated with less of observed positive engagement and more observed withdrawal and distress avoidance after controlling for spouse and child negative affect and behavior during ongoing interaction. Service members’ experiential avoidance also diminished significant associations between service members’ PTSD symptoms and their observed behavior. The results are discussed in terms of how service members’ psychological acceptance promotes family resilience and adaption to the multiple contextual challenges and role transitions associated with military deployment. Implications for parenting and marital interventions are described.
This study utilized multiple criterion group neuropsychological samples to evaluate the "over-reporting" and "under-reporting" MMPI-2-RF validity scales. The five criterion groups included in this study were (1) litigating traumatic brain injury patients who failed Slick et al. criteria for probable malingering, (2) litigating traumatic brain injury patients who passed Slick et al. criteria, (3) mixed neuropsychological outpatients who passed SVTs and were diagnosed with primary neurological conditions, (4) mixed neuropsychological outpatients who passed SVTs and were diagnosed with primary psychiatric conditions, and (5) epileptic seizure disorder inpatients who were diagnosed via video-EEG. Using the data from these groups, cumulative percentages for all possible T-scores and sensitivity and specificity rates for optimal cutoff scores were determined. When specificity rates were set at 90% across all non-malingering neurological condition groups, sensitivity rates ranged from 48% (FBS-r) to 10% (K-r).
The Test of Memory Malingering is one of the most popular and heavily researched validity tests available for use in neuropsychological evaluations. Recent research has suggested, however, that the original indices and cutoffs may require modifications to increase sensitivity rates. Some of these modifications lack cross-validation and no study has examined all indices in a single sample. This study compares Trial 1, Trial 2, the Retention Trial, and the newly created Albany Consistency Index in a criterion group forensic neuropsychological sample. Findings lend support for the newly created indices and cutoff scores. Implications and cautionary statements are provided and discussed.
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