Detection of deception on the millon clinical multiaxial inventory (MCMI)

Abstract

Subjects from a correctional inmate (94 incarcerated males with no history of psychiatric treatment) and a forensic inpatient (144 males and 7 females) setting were divided into distorted and nondistorted groups based on “fake bad” instructions and concurrent MMPI profiles. All subjects also were administered the MCMI. Significant differences were found between groups for MCMI profile validity, weight factor scores, and total profile correction scores. MCMI profiles were consistent with expected symptomatology, test design, and previous research. Results suggest that MCMI weight factor scores may be valuable indicators of symptom distortion in otherwise valid profiles in forensic settings. Results also indicated that the diagnostic accuracy of MCMI reports may vary greatly in relation to clinical population, symptom prevalence, and diagnostic category.

Efficacy of MMPI-2 validity scales and MCMI-II modifier scales for detecting spurious PTSD claims: F, F-K, fake bad scale, ego strength, subtle-obvious subscales, DIS, and DEB

“…(Millon, 1987, p. 116). Nonetheless, both the DIS and the DEB have been studied as potentially useful in the evaluation of malingering (e.g., McNiel & Meyer, 1990).…”

Psychological screening of sexually violent offenders with the MCMI

“…The test was sensitive to both acute clinical distress and to the antisocial and narcissistic features that are so prevalent in correctional settings (Langevin et al, 1988;McNeil & Meyer, 1990). Zarella, Schuerger, and Ritz (1990) found significant associations between MCMI scales and MMPI subscales and personality disorder scales within a correctional setting.…”

“…Wierzbici and Howard (1992) found that inmates with higher educational levels and intelligence showed a greater tendency to avoid the obvious items on the test, though the subtle-obvious distinction may not be important because little difference appears when subjects are asked to fake good or answer honestly (Peterson, Clark, & Bennet, 1989). The test was sensitive to both acute clinical distress and to the antisocial and narcissistic features that are so prevalent in correctional settings (Langevin et al, 1988;McNeil & Meyer, 1990). Zarella, Schuerger, and Ritz (1990) found significant associations between MCMI scales and MMPI subscales and personality disorder scales within a correctional setting.…”

Distinguishing between Neuropsychological Malingering and Exaggerated Psychiatric Symptoms in a Neuropsychological Setting

“…Compared with all other participants, those who failed neuropsychological SVTs had higher scores on many MCMI personality disorder scales, as well as the Alcohol Abuse, Psychotic Thinking, and Psychotic Depression clinical scales. These findings ought to be interpreted with some caution, however, as the diagnostic efficiency of the original MCMI personality and clinical scales is questionable (Choca, 2004), the use of a weight factor for classification of psychiatric malingering has not been sufficiently examined (e.g., McNiel & Meyer, 1990;van Gorp & Meyer, 1986), and the Rey-15 has been shown to have only moderate sensitivity as a measure of neuropsychological malingering (Vickery, Berry, Inman, Harris, & Orey, 2001). Nonetheless, this investigation is the first to suggest a potential dissociation between exaggerated symptoms of severe psychopathology and neuropsychological malingering using the MCMI.…”