The Use of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) in Assessing Offenders

Abstract

The intersection between the legal and mental health professions is sometimes marked by controversy, and the application of psychological assessments to forensic issues is no exception. However, the field of psychological assessment holds particular promise for clarifying decision making within the forensic arena, as it can bring a particularly well-established body of theory and data to bear upon clinical forensic practice. This article describes one psychometric instrument, the Personality Assessment Inventory, as an example of how particular assessment instruments can help inform this process.

Factor Structure and Correlates of the Dissociative Experiences Scale in a Large Offender Sample

“…Additionally, the ICN and INF scales were used to identify potentially invalid profiles. Previous work provides strong support for the reliability and validity of the PAI in both clinical and offender samples (Edens, Cruise, & BuffingtonVollum, 2001;Morey, 1996;Morey & Quigley, 2002). Coefficient alpha values for the relevant pathology scales, calculated using a subset of the current sample (n = 1,103 to 1,159), were as follows: ARD-T α = .86, BOR α = .88, ANT α = .85, and AGG α = .91.…”

Measuring Suicidality Using the Personality Assessment Inventory

“…Several other scholars have illustrated how the instrument can be used to effectively inform elements of practice within corrections (Douglas, Belfrage, Herbozo, Poythress, & Edens, 2006;Douglas, Hart, & Kropp, 2001;Duellman & Bowers, 2004;Edens, Cruise, & Buffington-Vollum, 2001;Edens & Ruiz, 2005;Morey & Quigley, 2002). Collectively, this growing body of research supports the broad-based utility of the PAI in correctional populations, yet more research into high risk areas, such as suicide prevention is needed.…”

“…Of note, the authors reported clear indications that the SUI scale was found to be a better measure of suicide potential. This point was iterated in the review conducted by Morey and Quigley (2002). Although the support in available literature on the use of the SPI is not as strong as the literature on the SUI, combined with the more rigorous findings on the validity of SPI in the Hopwood et al (2008) study, with forensic inpatient substance abusers, further exploration of the SPI is warranted.…”

Recovery and Replication of Internalizing and Externalizing Dimensions Within the Personality Assessment Inventory

“…The inventory assesses response styles, psychopathology, personality, and treatmentrelevant variables. The PAI has substantial potential within many settings given the breadth of information it provides (Edens, Cruise, & Buffington-Vollum, 2001;Morey, 1996;Morey & Quigley, 2002). The practical application of the instrument, however, requires that its acceptable psychometric properties generalize across settings.…”