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The Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is a NIH-funded measure that has item banks assessing a variety of physical, social, and mental health domains. Short forms from the emotional distress item bank (which includes measures of Depression, Anxiety, and Anger) were included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders–Fifth edition as emerging measures to be administered at intake to aid diagnosis and throughout treatment to track progress. The purpose of the current study was to further investigate the PROMIS distress item bank's construct validity using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). The sample included 344 college students (119 males, 225 females) who were administered the MMPI-2-RF and the PROMIS Anxiety, Anger, and Depression short forms. Zero-order correlations between the PROMIS scales and the Restructured Clinical Scales and Internalizing Specific Problems Scales were examined. Overall, these results suggest that scores from the PROMIS Anxiety, Anger, and Depression scales evidence convergent validity but have problematic construct validity (particularly for Depression). Future revision of the scales should be considered and sufficient external validation evidence should be available for review before psychological assessments are recommended and distributed for widespread clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the convergent validity of the substantive scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) in the Veteran Affairs (VA) population. The sample includes test protocols drawn from all administrations of the MMPI-2-RF or MMPI-2 entered into the electronic medical record system between January 1, 2008 and May 31, 2015 at any VA across the United States. After excluding invalid protocols, substantive scale scores were correlated with external measures of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder if they were administered within |14| days of the MMPI-2/-RF. Results supported the convergent validity of the MMPI-2-RF emotional dysfunction domain scores. Discriminant validity for the remaining MMPI-2-RF substantive scale scores was also adequate. Limitations and implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The triarchic psychopathy model has become a popular perspective from which psychopathic personality traits can be understood. Its constructs can be operationalized via multiple methods, including the scales developed for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form item pool (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath, Y. S., & Tellegen, A. (2008)/2011. MMPI-2-RF: Manual for administration, scoring and interpretation. University of Minnesota Press. doi:10.1037/t15121-000). Early research has supported the validity and reliability of the MMPI-2-RF-Tri scales. However, no study has directly compared the concurrent validity of these indices with that of the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM; Patrick, C. J. (2010). Operationalizing the triarchic conceptualization of psychopathy: Preliminary description of brief scales for assessment of boldness, meanness, and disinhibition. Unpublished test manual, Florida State University, Tallahassee). The current study was conducted using a sample of over 1000 university students at a large midwestern university. All participants were administered both the TriPM and the MMPI-2-RF, as well as other concurrent measures relevant to psychopathy. We found that the MMPI-2-RF-Tri scale scores yielded similar correlation patterns to the TriPM scores from the same sample. Most notably, we found that there was a negligible difference amongst the boldness convergent associations across the TriPM and MMPI-2-RF-Tri measures. Implications of these findings and limitations of this study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a flexible and conditional administration (FCA) for the MMPI–2–RF in archival samples of spine surgery and spinal cord simulator candidates presenting for presurgical psychological evaluations. The sample included 1,477 spine surgery candidates (709 male, 276 female) and 476 spinal cord stimulator candidates (178 male, 298 female). Using a simulation design, the results of this study indicated that an FCA of the MMPI–2–RF closely approximates the amount of information gained from a standard MMPI–2–RF administration. In addition, time savings were substantial in both samples, particularly the spine surgery sample, as item savings varied from 40% to 80%, depending on the number of substantive domains flexibly administered. Overall, the results of the study lend support for the feasibility of the FCA approach in presurgical evaluations of spine surgery candidates, in particular for those situations where the length of the test would otherwise preclude its use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Personality Inventory for ICD-11 (PiCD) was recently developed to assess the ICD-11 model of personality disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine the construct validity of the PiCD using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) and the Computerized Adaptive Test of Personality Disorders Static Form (CAT-PD-SF). We administered these tests to 328 college students (150 males, 178 females). We found that the PiCD had adequate internal consistency reliability. Correlations between scores from the PiCD scales and the criterion measures generally indicated adequate discriminant validity. Along the same lines, convergent validity was adequate for the PiCD Negative Affective, Disinhibition, and Dissocial scales. However, the evidence was more mixed for the PiCD Detachment and Anankastic domains, which may be due to limitations with the content domains for these scales. Consistent with other research and theoretical expectations, a conjoint exploratory factor analysis utilizing the PiCD and MMPI-2-RF PSY-5 scales also indicated that anankastic and disinhibition may be more appropriately conceptualized as measuring opposite poles of one construct. Implications of these findings for the PiCD and the ICD-11 model are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distress intolerance has been studied as a transdiagnostic mechanism implicated in a variety of forms of psychopathology and psychological treatments. Although past research has largely supported the separability of distress intolerance from related constructs, some evidence indicates that it overlaps to a meaningful degree with demoralization and negative emotionality, two affect-laden psychopathology-vulnerability factors. The goal of the current study was to clarify the position of the distress intolerance construct in a nomological network that includes demoralization and negative emotionality. Using a sample of 402 undergraduate students, we performed confirmatory factor analyses to examine the underlying structure of distress intolerance, demoralization, and negative emotionality. We also conducted zero-order correlational and hierarchical regression analyses to examine whether distress intolerance predicts unique variance in theoretically relevant psychological constructs above and beyond demoralization and negative emotionality. Results indicated that, although distress intolerance, demoralization, and negative emotionality demonstrate similar patterns of associations with external criteria, the constructs are structurally distinct and distress intolerance accounts for unique variance in psychological outcomes. Overall, our findings support the construct validity of distress intolerance as empirically separable from both demoralization and negative emotionality. Clinical implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares profiles of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) scale scores from 1492 VA test-takers who served during the Vietnam or Gulf War service eras. The sample includes all such cases collected at any VA posttraumatic stress disorder Clinical Teams across the United States between January 1, 2008 and May 31, 2015 using the MMPI-2 or MMPI-2-RF (via the VA Mental Health Assistant suite). Associations between gender and score differences were also examined. In contrast to past research using the MMPI-2, results of this study suggest that veterans are generally homogeneous in their MMPI-2-RF profiles across different periods of service. Specifically, the magnitudes of mean differences are small and not clinically significant. Thus, responses on the MMPI-2-RF do not appear influenced by service era. Implications for the clinical use of, and research with, the MMPI-2-RF are discussed within the VA healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between substance use disclosure during the clinical interview and on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) Substance Abuse Scale (SUB) among forensic inpatients. Of the 223 archival reports reviewed that had MMPI-2-RF data, 69% of the MMPI-2-RF protocols were valid based on standard validity criteria, resulting in a final sample of 154 patients (98 men, 56 women). We found that patients who endorsed alcohol or marijuana use during the clinical interview often concurrently denied substance use on the MMPI-2-RF SUB scale (the opposite was found for prescription drug abuse). We also found that the MMPI-2-RF SUB scale and other MMPI-2-RF externalizing scales were meaningfully associated with concurrent substance use variables from a record review form. Finally, we found that the MMPI-2-RF SUB scale demonstrated incremental validity over other MMPI-2-RF externalizing scales in the prediction of substance use problems. These results highlight the utility of SUB scale and other self-report instruments in assessing substance use problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined associations between prehire California Psychological Inventory (CPI) and prorated Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 Restructured Form (MMPI–2–RF) scores (calculated from MMPI profiles) and supervisor ratings for a sample of 143 male police officers. Substantive scale scores in this sample were meaningfully lower than those obtained by the tests' normative samples in the case of the MMPI–2–RF and meaningfully higher in the case of the CPI (indicating less psychological dysfunction). Test scores from both instruments showed substantial range restriction, consistent with those produced by members of the police candidate comparison groups (Corey & Ben-Porath, 2014; Roberts & Johnson, 2001). After applying a statistical correction for range restriction, we found a number of meaningful associations between both CPI and MMPI–2–RF substantive scale scores and supervisor ratings. For the MMPI–2–RF, findings for scales from the emotional dysfunction and interpersonal functioning domains of the test were particularly strong. For the CPI, findings for scales indicating conformity with social norms, integrity, and tolerance were strong, as were the findings for an index indicating risk of termination. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that MMPI–2–RF and CPI scores complement each other, accounting for incremental variance in the prediction of job-related variables over and above each other. Implications of these findings for assessment science and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation provides descriptive information on substantive scale scores from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) across four common service locations within Veterans Affairs (VA): PTSD clinical team, individual substance use treatment, primary medical care, and residential polytrauma rehabilitation. Test protocols for these four service settings are drawn from a national sample of all MMPI-2-RF and converted MMPI-2 administrations between January 1, 2008 and May 31, 2015 using the VA Mental Health Assist system at any VA across the United States. Frequency of substantive scale elevation and descriptive findings are examined. Results of this investigation suggest that there are differences between VA service locations on the MMPI-2-RF substantive scales, the magnitude of difference depends on the substantive scale examined, and the pattern of elevation within service location follows common clinical concerns for the settings. Implications for the clinical use, and research with, the MMPI-2-RF within the VA and with the veteran population are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexually violent predator (SVP) laws allow the postprison civil commitment of sex offenders to a secure psychiatric hospital because of mental abnormality and posing a serious risk to public safety. Research on predictors of future institutional violence in this population is lacking because adequately sized samples are difficult to obtain. In the current study, we examined psychological predictors of future institutional violence in a sample of 171 psychiatrically hospitalized males detained or civilly committed under an SVP laws. Using the Minnesota Multiphasic-Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011), we found that scales assessing thought dysfunction, emotional dysregulation, and externalizing behaviors were associated with future physical violence at the hospital. Relative risk ratio analyses indicated that SVPs producing elevations on these scales were at 1.5-2.5 times greater risk of future physical violence than those without elevations. Overall, the results suggest the Minnesota Multiphasic-Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form is associated with future institutional violence among SVPs. Implications and limitations of these findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the diversity of individuals who undergo psychological assessment, examining whether cultural bias exists in psychological assessment instruments (i.e., differential validity) is crucial. This issue occurs when a measure systematically over- or underpredicts a criterion across demographic groups or is associated with the criterion unequally across the groups. We tested the differential validity of a widely used psychological test, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), as a function of gender (male, female) and ethnicity (Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic/Latino American) in large samples of forensic psychiatric inpatients. Regression models were estimated in a multigroup framework. The analyses yielded negligible to small statistical evidence of differential validity in MMPI-2-RF scores predicting the number of future suicidal behaviors and violent behaviors in the samples. This evidence supports use of the MMPI-2-RF as a generally unbiased instrument for predicting key criteria across genders and ethnicities in a forensic psychiatric population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rogers, Sewell, and Gillard (2010) released a revised version of the Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS; Rogers, Bagby, & Dickens, 1992), the SIRS-2, which introduced several new scales, indices, and a new classification model with the overall goal of improving its classification of genuine versus feigned presentations. Since the release of the SIRS-2, several concerns have been raised regarding the quality of the SIRS-2 development and validation samples and the method used to calculate classification accuracy estimates. To further explore issues related to the clinical utility of the SIRS-2, the current study examined associations of the SIRS and SIRS-2 with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011) validity scales in separate samples of disability claimants and criminal defendants. Results indicate that the SIRS-2 reduced the number of feigning classifications. Additional analyses suggest that the Modified Total Index and Supplementary Scale Index do not assess the test-taking strategy that Rogers and colleagues (2010) intended the indices to capture. External data indicates that evaluees reclassified on the SIRS-2 in nonfeigning categories exhibited feigned symptoms of psychopathology. Indeed, we found that SIRS-identified feigners showed significant evidence of overreporting on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form validity scales, regardless of their SIRS-2 classification. The current study highlights the overall weakness in clinical utility of the SIRS-2. Implications of these results for both clinical and forensic settings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally well understood that possible reasons for inconsistent responding on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), as measured by the Variable Response Inconsistency (VRIN-r) and True Response Inconsistency (TRIN-r) scales, include reading or language limitations, cognitive impairment, and intentional random responding; however, the interpretive recommendations for the test suggest that higher scores on these scales can also result from an uncooperative test-taking approach. This study utilized a sample of 3,457 predominately non-head injury disability claimants to examine the association between inconsistent responding on the MMPI-2-RF and performance on cognitive tests as well performance validity tests (PVTs), an independent indicator of uncooperative test-taking attitude. Analysis of variance found that both VRIN-r and TRIN-r were associated with statistically lower cognitive test scores. These analyses also supported that TRIN-r was associated with poor performance on collaterally administered PVTs in a subsample of individuals with average reading levels. Illustrating the practical effects of these results, in follow-up relative risk ratio analyses, individuals with elevations on TRIN-r were at up to five times greater risk of PVT failure than those without elevations. Overall, the results of this study provide some support for the interpretation that inconsistent responding on the MMPI-2-RF is associated not only with cognitive/reading problems or limitations but also an uncooperative test-taking approach, particularly for elevated TRIN-r scores. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to examine the relative utility of the most updated MMPI adult instrument, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), which was designed to address psychometric limitations of the MMPI-2. To this end, we compared mean scores and correlates of emotional distress treatment outcomes using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales in a sample of 230 patients (73 males, 157 females) who had completed an interdisciplinary chronic pain rehabilitation program. Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that higher scale scores from all the MMPI-2-RF substantive domains were meaningfully associated with worse emotional distress outcomes, whereas the MMPI-2 Clinical Scales generally did not have any meaningful associations. Similar results were found in additional analyses using a clinically significant change framework with more direct clinical implications. The results of this study provide preliminary support for the use of the MMPI-2-RF among patients with chronic low back pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past research indicates a need to integrate objective psychological testing with clinical interview data during suicide risk assessment. The current study evaluated the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) in the prediction of future suicidal behaviors in a sample of 1,110 forensic inpatients (807 males, 303 females). Results indicated that scales from all substantive domains of the MMPI-2-RF were significantly positively associated with future suicidal behaviors. Consistent with expectations, the best predictors were scale scores from the internalizing and externalizing domains of the inventory. Relative Risk Ratios indicated that individuals producing elevations on these scales were at 2 to 4 times greater risk of future suicidal behaviors compared with those who did not produce elevations. Implications of these findings and limitations of this study are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite research suggesting that use of forensic assessment instruments of competency to stand trial (CST) can improve the integrity of forensic conceptualizations (Rogers & Johansson-Love, 2009), the majority of evaluators do not use these measures in CST evaluations (Nicholson & Norwood, 2000). The purpose of this study is to bridge the gap between competency evaluations based on a conventional interview and those conducted with the aid of a standardized forensic assessment instrument. To this end, we utilized an archival sample of 704 criminal defendants (543 males, 161 females) ordered to undergo evaluations of CST. In the overall sample, as well as in 2 comparison groups comprised of individuals with psychotic disorders and mental retardation, we coded evaluee responses to 45 conventional competency questions relating to factual understanding, rational understanding, and ability to cooperate with counsel. We present accuracy rates to these questions across competent and incompetent groups in an effort to provide information that can make conventional interviews more evidence-based. Using relative risk ratios, we also sought to identify the questions most associated with evaluator opinions of incompetency. Overall, the results indicated fairly consistent trends that questions relating to rational understanding and ability to cooperate with counsel were the most associated with competence. We discuss how the relative risk ratio findings and descriptive information can be used to make conventional competency interviews more objective and empirically based by providing evaluators with a normative reference point for commonly asked competency questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past several decades, use of broadband personality assessments has decreased, with some clinicians favoring shorter, symptom-focused measures with a shorter administration time. The purpose of this study is to describe, derive rules for, and evaluate a flexible and conditional administration of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). In this approach, elevated scores on higher level scales are used to trigger administration of lower-level scales within the same assessment domain to minimize administration time. We conducted a real-data simulation to derive rules for and evaluate this administration strategy using the MMPI-2-RF normative sample and a community mental health center comparison group. These samples allow for comparing the utility of the method in populations with relatively low and high base rates of psychopathology, respectively. The flexible and conditional administration strategy resulted in minimal loss of information in separate subsamples used to evaluate the method. However, item savings were more pronounced in the normative sample, in which administration time was decreased by 40% to 80% depending on the number of substantive domains assessed. Overall, flexible and conditional administration of the MMPI-2-RF appears to hold substantial promise in settings with time constraints and relatively low base rates of psychopathology, such as medical patient and neuropsychological evaluations as well as assessments of candidates for public safety positions. Other implications of these findings and limitations of this study are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated overreporting Validity Scale scores on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) are associated with higher scores on collateral measures; however, measures used in prior research lacked validity scales. We sought to extend these findings by examining associations between elevated MMPI-2-RF overreporting scale scores and Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) scale scores among 654 non–head injury civil disability claimants. Individuals were classified as overreporting psychopathology (OR-P), overreporting somatic/cognitive complaints (OR-SC), inconclusive reporting psychopathology (IR-P), inconclusive reporting somatic/cognitive complaints (IR-SC), or valid reporting (VR). Both overreporting groups had significantly and meaningfully higher scores than the VR group on the MMPI-2-RF and PAI scales. Both IR groups had significantly and meaningfully higher scores than the VR group, as well as lower scores than their overreporting counterparts. Our findings demonstrate the utility of inventories with validity scales in assessment batteries that include instruments without measures of protocol validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflecting the need to prevent violence, structured professional judgment assessment tools have been developed specifically to assess the likelihood of future violence. These tools typically integrate data from clinical interviews and collateral records to assist in the conceptualization of violence risk, but objective psychological testing may also be useful in completing the instruments. The authors describe the advantages of using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) in this manner with the Historical Clinical Management-20 Version 3 (HCR-20V3). Accordingly, they have 2 purposes. First, they sought to identify conceptual links between the constructs measured by the tools and introduce a model to integrate MMPI-2-RF findings into an HCR-20V3 risk assessment. Second, although the authors did not have collateral HCR-20V3 ratings, they sought to examine associations between the MMPI-2-RF scales and future violence in a sample of 303 psychiatric patients (233 males, 70 females) adjudicated as not guilty by reason of insanity. The authors found that the MMPI-2-RF scales demonstrated significant, meaningful associations with a count of future violent acts at the hospital. The largest associations involved scales measuring emotional dysregulation and externalizing dysfunction. These associations were qualified by relative risk ratio analyses indicating that patients producing elevations on these scales were at 1.5 to 2.5 times greater risk of future violence than those without elevations. Overall, the findings indicated that most MMPI-2-RF scales conceptually linked to the HCR-20V3 risk factors were associated with future violence. In light of these findings, the authors discuss recommendations for integrating the MMPI-2-RF when interpreting HCR-20V3 risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test (M-FAST) was designed as a screening measure for feigned psychiatric symptoms. When M-FAST Total Scores are elevated (raw score ≥6), the test manual recommends follow-up with a more comprehensive measure of feigning, such as the widely used and researched Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS) or the revised version of the test (SIRS-2). The purpose of the current study was to evaluate how often M-FAST screening elevations are associated with subsequent elevations on the SIRS or SIRS-2. The sample included archival data from 100 forensic psychiatric inpatients who obtained M-FAST Total Score elevations ≥6 during screening and were subsequently administered the SIRS (that was also rescored using SIRS-2 criteria). Among examinees who elevated the M-FAST over the recommended cutoff, 66.0% met standard SIRS feigning criteria, 42% met SIRS-2 criteria for feigning, and 81.0% obtained at least 1 SIRS/SIRS-2 elevation in the Probable Feigning range or higher. These results are consistent with the M-FAST manual guidelines, which support the use of the ≥6 M-FAST cutoff score to screen for potential feigning (but not as an independent marker of feigning). A higher M-FAST cutoff score of ≥16 was associated with subsequently meeting full SIRS criteria for feigning in 100.0% of protocols. Because the SIRS criteria were designed to have very low false positive rates, these findings indicate that more confident assertions about feigning can be made when elevations reach this level on the MFAST. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS) underwent a major revision in 2010 yielding the SIRS-2. The new test has since been criticized for several potential problems, particularly in terms of its sensitivity to feigned psychopathology. For this reason, the purpose of this study was to examine the concordance between SIRS and SIRS-2 classifications and sensitivity estimates in an archival sample of 263 criminal defendants (215 males, 48 females) who were admitted to a high-security state psychiatric hospital for restoration of competency to stand trial. In a subgroup of 39 presumed feigning patients who elevated 1 or more collateral measures of feigning (primarily the M-FAST) at conservative cutoffs, we found marked discrepancies between the sensitivity of the SIRS (.87) and SIRS-2 (.54). The marked differences in sensitivity were partially explained by a global interpretation discordance rate of 47%, with discordance primarily resulting from SIRS-based feigning cases being classified as indeterminate on the SIRS-2. Follow-up analyses of intercorrelations and percentile distributions indicated that the new SIRS-2 scales may lack utility in the assessment of feigning because of problems relating to the construct validity of the scales and their interpretive cutoffs. Future directions in research and clinical practice are discussed, with added emphasis on the significant limitations of archival pretrial forensic samples for identifying presumed genuine groups necessary to calculate specificity estimates (which were meaningfully higher for the SIRS-2 in this sample). Overall, the primary clinical implication is that feigning should remain a strong consideration in SIRS-2 cases yielding an indeterminate classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to identify Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) correlates of police officer integrity violations and other problem behaviors in an archival database with original MMPI item responses and collateral information regarding integrity violations obtained for 417 male officers. In Study 1, we estimated MMPI-2-RF scores from the MMPI item pool (which includes approximately 80% of the MMPI-2-RF items) in a normative sample, a psychiatric inpatient sample, and a police officer sample, and conducted analyses that demonstrated the comparability of estimated and full scale scores for 41 of the 51 MMPI-2-RF scales. In Study 2, we correlated estimated MMPI-2-RF scores with information about subsequent integrity violations and problem behaviors from the integrity violation data set. Several meaningful associations were obtained, predominately with scales from the emotional, thought, and behavioral dysfunction domains of the MMPI-2-RF. Application of a correction for range restriction yielded substantially improved validity estimates. Finally, we calculated relative risk ratios for the statistically significant findings using cutoffs lower than 65T, which is traditionally used to identify clinically significant elevations, and found several meaningful relative risk ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined associations between prehire Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) scores and posthire performance ratings for a sample of 131 male police officers. Substantive scale scores in this sample were meaningfully lower than those obtained by the test’s normative sample and substantially range restricted, but scores were consistent with those produced by members of the police candidate comparison group (Corey & Ben-Porath). After applying a statistical correction for range restriction, we found several associations between MMPI-2-RF substantive scale scores and supervisor ratings of job-related performance. Findings for scales from the emotional dysfunction and interpersonal functioning domains of the test were particularly strong. For example, scales assessing low positive emotions and social avoidance were associated with several criteria that may be affected by lack of engagement with one’s environment and other people, including problems with routine task performance, decision making, assertiveness, conscientiousness, and social competence. Implications of these findings for assessment science and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2–Restructured Form scores for 145 male police officer candidates were compared with supervisor ratings of field performance and problem behaviors during their initial probationary period. Results indicated that the officers produced meaningfully lower and less variant substantive scale scores compared to the general population. After applying a statistical correction for range restriction, substantive scale scores from all domains assessed by the inventory demonstrated moderate to large correlations with performance criteria. The practical significance of these results was assessed with relative risk ratio analyses that examined the utility of specific cutoffs on scales demonstrating associations with performance criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the reliability and concurrent validity of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2-Restructured Form (2-RF) (Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011) scores in a sample of 811 chronic low back pain patients (346 males, 529 females) beginning treatment in a short-term interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program. We calculated internal consistency coefficients, mean-item correlations, and SEM for all substantive scales, as well as zero-order correlations with collateral medical record information and self-report testing. Results indicated reliability and validity for most of the MMPI-2-RF substantive scales. Implications of these findings and limitations of this study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the internal structure comparability of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) scores derived from the MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF booklets in a sample of 320 criminal defendants (229 males and 54 females). After exclusion of invalid protocols, the final sample consisted of 96 defendants who were administered the MMPI-2-RF booklet and 83 who completed the MMPI-2. No statistically significant differences in MMPI-2-RF invalidity rates were observed between the two forms. Individuals in the final sample who completed the MMPI-2-RF did not statistically differ on demographics or referral question from those who were administered the MMPI-2 booklet. Independent t tests showed no statistically significant differences between MMPI-2-RF scores generated with the MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF booklets on the test’s substantive scales. Statistically significant small differences were observed on the revised Variable Response Inconsistency (VRIN-r) and True Response Inconsistency (TRIN-r) scales. Cronbach’s alpha and standard errors of measurement were approximately equal between the booklets for all MMPI-2-RF scales. Finally, MMPI-2-RF intercorrelations produced from the two forms yielded mostly small and a few medium differences, indicating that discriminant validity and test structure are maintained. Overall, our findings reflect the internal structure comparability of MMPI-2-RF scale scores generated from MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF booklets. Implications of these results and limitations of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Some research suggests that higher levels of depression and anxiety-related symptoms at intake are associated with premature termination from psychotherapy, but findings are mixed. However, theoretical and measurement considerations – introduced by a common mood factor – might complicate literature synthesis. Tellegen (1985) demonstrated that demoralization causes multicollinearity between measures of depression and anxiety, and other lines of research have converged to indicate that this construct is an important non-specific factor to consider when assessing mood pathology. Methods We utilized a sample of 557 community mental health center outpatients (188 males, 265 females; 80% Caucasian) with an average age of 32.2 years ( SD =10.2). We used self-report indicators to model latent low positive emotionality and negative emotionality constructs, which are temperament markers of core depressive and anxiety symptoms. We further specified a latent demoralization bifactor from these indicators. Results As hypothesized, the bifactor model yielded significantly better fit than competing one-factor and two-factor models. Furthermore, the bifactor was substantially correlated with a demoralization measure ( r =.96). As expected, low positive emotionality and negative emotionality were significant predictors of therapist ratings of premature termination. Though demoralization was a non-significant predictor, the structural paths from the other two internalizing constructs markedly increased in the bifactor model relative to the two-factor model. Limitations Replications with other, more diverse clinical populations using multi-method indicators of premature termination are needed. Conclusions This research indicates that after accounting for demoralization patients presenting with core mood disorder symptoms are at substantially increased risk for premature termination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the predictive validity of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMP1-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011) scores in police officer screenings. We utilized a sample of 712 police officer candidates (82.6% male) from 2 Midwestern police departments. The sample included 426 hired officers, most of whom had supervisor ratings of problem behaviors and human resource records of civilian complaints. With the full sample, we calculated zero-order correlations between MMPI-2-RF scale scores and scale scores from the California Psychological Inventory (Gough, 1956) and Inwald Personality Inventory (Inwald, 2006) by gender. In the hired sample, we correlated MMPI-2-RF scale scores with the outcome data for males only, owing to the relatively small number of hired women. Several scales demonstrated meaningful correlations with the criteria, particularly in the thought dysfunction and behavioral/externalizing dysfunction domains. After applying a correction for range restriction, the correlation coefficient magnitudes were generally in the moderate to large range. The practical implications of these findings were explored by means of risk ratio analyses, which indicated that officers who produced elevations at cutscores lower than the traditionally used 65 T-score level were as much as 10 times more likely than those scoring below the cutoff to exhibit problem behaviors. Overall, the results supported the validity of the MMPI-2-RF in this setting. Implications and limitations of this study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recently published article in this journal, Odland, Lammy, Perle, Martin, and Grote report Monte Carlo-simulated normative base rates of scale elevations on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). Their primary conclusion—reflected in the title of their article—is that MMPI-2-RF interpretation is associated with “high risk of pathologizing healthy adults” when the 40 substantive scales of the test are simultaneously interpreted. In this paper, we describe how their conclusion follows from several faulty premises, three of which were already debunked in an earlier article and remain false despite counterarguments proposed by Odland and colleagues. We also address these authors’ misinterpretation of their analyses and, furthermore, their premise that MMPI-2-RF interpretive guidelines are flawed because they “currently do not account for a basic statistical principle: Type I (or alpha) error inflation” (p. 1). This premise is irrelevant to psychological test interpretation and misaligned with neuropsychological testing literature cited in support of it. Consistent with suggestions by some of the authors they cite, we reiterate MMPI-2-RF interpretive guidelines designed to mitigate the impact of measurement error (not alpha error) by way of a scientific assessment approach that relies on integration of information derived from multiple sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive validity of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) in a sample of law enforcement officers. MMPI-2-RF scores were collected from preemployment psychological evaluations of 136 male police officers, and supervisor ratings of performance and problem behavior were subsequently obtained during the initial probationary period. The sample produced meaningfully lower and less variant substantive scale scores than the general population and the MMPI-2-RF Police Candidate comparison group, which significantly affected effect sizes for the zero-order correlations. After applying a correction for range restriction, MMPI-2-RF substantive scales demonstrated moderate to strong associations with criteria, particularly in the Emotional Dysfunction and Interpersonal Functioning domains. Relative risk ratio analyses showed that cutoffs of 45T and 50T maintained reasonable selection ratios because of the exceptionally low scores in this sample and were associated with significantly increased risk for problematic behavior. These results provide support for the predictive validity of the MMPI-2-RF substantive scales in this setting. Implications of these findings and limitations of these results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We compared Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) scores of 25 individuals convicted of felonies who violated probation within 1 year of sentencing with those of 45 similarly sentenced defendants who completed probation successfully. The sample (51 males, 19 females) ranged in age from 18 to 81 years (M = 35.2, SD = 13.8) and had 8 to 16 years of education (M = 11.7, SD = 2.1). The majority were Caucasian (85.7%), but African Americans were also represented (14.3%). Individuals in the sample were primarily convicted of mid-level felonies (F-l: 2.9%; F-2: 14.3%; F-3: 22.9%; F-4: 31.4%; F-5: 12.9%). As hypothesized, moderate to large statistically significant differences between probation completers and violators were found on several MMPI-2-RF scales, including Behavioral/Extemalizing Dysfunction, Antisocial Behavior, Juvenile Conduct Problems, Substance Abuse, Aggression, Activation, and Disconstraint. Relative risk ratio analyses indicated that probationers who produced elevated scores on these scales were up to 3 times more likely to violate probation than were those with non-elevated scores. Implications of these results and limitations of our findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Use of psychotherapeutic outcome measures improves patient outcomes and demonstrates patient improvement. However, practitioners infrequently use these measures because of concerns regarding their practicality and utility. We critically evaluate global self-report measures of adult psychotherapeutic outcome on key practical and utilitarian criteria. Method The following measures were evaluated according to practical criteria (e.g., administration time and cost) and utilitarian criteria (e.g., psychometrics and sensitivity to change): Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale-24; Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure; Depression Anxiety Stress Scales; Health Survey Short Form-36; Outcome Questionnaire-45; Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System; Symptom Checklist-90-Revised; and Brief Symptom Inventory. Results All of the reviewed outcome measures had a number of practical strengths, including short administration time. However, we also identified utilitarian concerns for each measure that are likely to affect their use and interpretation. Conclusion Each of the reviewed outcome measures mostly address practitioners' concerns regarding practicality and utility. This critical review can aid practitioners in selecting an outcome measure based on their preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bariatric surgery patients are at increased risk for suicide and lifetime substance abuse problems, and these risks are surgical contraindications. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory--2--Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) has scales to screen for these risks factors, among others. We seek to evaluate the classification accuracy of the MMPI-2-RF Suicidal/Death Ideation (SUI) and Substance Abuse (SUB) scales to optimize their use in bariatric surgery settings. Data were collected from 1,311 (72.1% female; 65.5% Caucasian) bariatric surgery candidates from the Cleveland Clinic as well as 295 (94.1% female; 85.9% Caucasian) bariatric surgery candidates from a private practice in St. Paul, Minnesota. Classification accuracies were calculated at original and revised SUI and SUB interpretative cutoffs in the Cleveland Clinic sample and replicated in the St. Paul sample. Significant and meaningful classification accuracy gains were demonstrated by excluding a death ideation item from the SUI scale and lowering the interpretive cutoff on the SUB scale. Practical implications and study limitations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, we examined the reliability, validity, and clinical utility of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2011) scores in a sample of 759 bariatric surgery candidates. We provide descriptives for all scales, internal consistency and standard error of measurement estimates for all substantive scales, external correlates of substantive scales using chart review and self-report criteria, and relative risk ratios to assess the clinical utility of the instrument. Results generally support the reliability, validity, and clinical utility of MMPI-2-RF scale scores in the psychological evaluation of bariatric surgery candidates. Limitations, future directions, and practical application of these results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odland, Berthelson, Sharma, Martin, and Mittenberg (2013) caution that clinically elevated scale scores produced by members of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011) normative sample raise concerns about the potential for false positive findings of psychopathology. However, the MMPI-2-RF normative sample is intended to represent the general population of the United States, 26.2% of which met criteria for aDiagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV(APA, 1994) disorder in a 12-month period (Kessler, Chiu, Demler, & Walters, 2005). In the current study we compare scale elevation rates in the MMPI-2-RF normative sample to prevalence rates of mental disorders primarily drawn from the National Comorbidity Study Replication (Kessler et al., 2005). Our objective was to evaluate MMPI-2-RF elevation rates in an epidemiological context. Results indicate that MMPI-2-RF scale elevation rates were generally consistent with epidemiological data when examined in the context of standard interpretation guidelines for the inventory. We also reiterate Ben-Porath and Tellegen’s (2008/2011) caution that MMPI-2-RF scale elevations alone are not sufficient to indicate the presence of psychiatric disorder. Rather they are best viewed as indications of the need to evaluate the individual for possible disorder(s). Implications of these results, limitations of this study, and future directions in research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the over-reporting Validity Scales of the MMPI-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011) in relation to the Slick, Sherman, and Iverson (1999) criteria for the diagnosis of Malingered Neurocognitive Dysfunction in a sample of 916 consecutive non-head injury disability claimants. The classification of Malingered Neurocognitive Dysfunction was based on scores from several cognitive symptom validity tests and response bias indicators built into traditional neuropsychological tests. Higher scores on MMPI-2-RF Validity Scales, particularly the Response Bias Scale (Gervais, Ben-Porath, Wygant, & Green, 2007), were associated with probable and definite Malingered Neurocognitive Dysfunction. The MMPI-2-RF's Validity Scales classification accuracy of Malingered Neurocognitive Dysfunction improved when multiple scales were interpreted. Additionally, higher scores on MMPI-2-RF substantive scales measuring distress, internalizing dysfunction, thought dysfunction, and social avoidance were associated with probable and definite Malingered Neurocognitive Dysfunction. Implications for clinical practice and future directions are noted. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Psychological testing is an important component of the screening process for public safety officers. The use of standardized measures is intended to increase the objectivity of preemployment evaluations, highlighting the importance of examining tests used in these assessments for evidence of differential validity. Differential validity is indicated when a screening measure is unequally associated with, or systematically over- or under-predicts, a criterion across demographic groups. In the current study, we examined for differential validity in Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) scores in a sample of 527 police officer candidates (455 males, 72 females). We first calculated correlations between MMPI-3 scores and job-relevant historical variables. Next, for variable pairings that yielded at least a small effect size, regression models were estimated in a multi-group framework comparing associations between MMPI-3 scores and the historical variables across men and women. The analyses yielded statistical evidence of negligible differential validity across gender in police officer screenings. Implications of these findings and limitations of this study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research using a categorical-polythetic classification system for mental illness has raised concern regarding the validity of categorical classification systems. Recent efforts suggest psychopathology is better understood from a dimensional framework, though there has been varying evidence of a somatization factor. The current investigation seeks to produce and validate a dimensional model of psychopathology, with a particular emphasis on the placement of somatization, across three nonoverlapping medical samples. Using a bariatric surgery seeking sample (n = 1,268), a spine surgery/spinal cord stimulator seeking sample (n = 1,711), and a chronic pain treatment seeking sample (n = 1,388), a dimensional model of psychopathology was replicated across all three samples using a dimensional measure of psychopathology (the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form [MMPI-2-RF]). Clear evidence of a separate somatization factor was found in addition to broad internalizing, externalizing, and social detachment factors. Constructs assessable with the model yielded good convergent and discriminant validity coefficients with external criteria, and further supported the presence of a higher-order somatization construct. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies suggest the importance of understanding what factors increase risk of lack of physical activity (PA) prior to bariatric surgery, which may increase risk of suboptimal postoperative outcomes. Therefore, the current study sought to explore which Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) scales were associated with lack of pre-surgical PA. The mean age of the sample (N = 1170) was 45.97 years [standard deviation (SD) = 11.59]. Bivariate correlations and relative risk ratios were utilized to examine associations between MMPI-2-RF scale scores and regular preoperative PA. Of the ten hypothesized associations, seven MMPI-2-RF scales in the internalizing and somatic domains were associated with increased risk of preoperative lack of PA. Interventions designed to increase levels of preoperative PA are especially important because individuals with higher levels of preoperative cardiorespiratory fitness experience less complications in surgery and greater weight loss postoperatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the comparability of laptop computer- and tablet-based administration modes for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). Employing a counterbalanced within-subjects design, the MMPI-2-RF was administered via both modes to a sample of college undergraduates (N = 133). Administration modes were compared in terms of mean scale scores, internal consistency, test–retest consistency, external validity, and administration time. Mean scores were generally similar, and scores produced via both methods appeared approximately equal in terms of internal consistency and test–retest consistency. Scores from the two modalities also evidenced highly similar patterns of associations with external criteria. Notably, tablet administration of the MMPI-2-RF was substantially longer than laptop administration in the present study (mean difference 7.2 minutes, Cohen's d =.95). Overall, results suggest that varying administration mode between laptop and tablet has a negligible influence on MMPI-2-RF scores, providing evidence that these modes of administration can be considered psychometrically equivalent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form is a widely used measure of psychopathology and includes the Personality Psychopathology Five (PSY-5) scales, which measure dimensional maladaptive personality traits similar to those in the DSM-5 alternative model for personality disorder (PD) diagnosis. The current study evaluated the role of these dimensional personality psychopathology characteristics in a sample of 1,110 inpatients in a forensic psychiatric setting, where personality psychopathology plays a significant but understudied role. The authors examined the extent to which dimensional personality psychopathology characteristics (as measured by the PSY-5) were associated with borderline and antisocial PD diagnoses and institutional aggression. Results support the usefulness of measuring dimensional personality traits for understanding PD diagnoses, as well as incidents of institutional aggression. More specifically, the PSY-5 scales appear to measure the core features of borderline and antisocial PDs. This study supports the inclusion of dimensional personality assessment in understanding aggressive behavior in inpatient settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association between two measures of WRAT-4 reading ability—Word Reading and Sentence Comprehension—and two well-validated measures of inconsistent responding—MMPI-2-RF Variable Response Inconsistency (VRIN-r) and True Response Inconsistency (TRIN-r) among 136 forensic inpatients (90 men, 46 women). It was hypothesized that WRAT-4 Sentence Comprehension would demonstrate stronger associations with VRIN-r than WRAT-4 Word Reading. It was also hypothesized that there may be a minimal association between Sentence Comprehension and TRIN-r. Although WRAT-4 Word Reading was not significantly correlated with VRIN-r (rs = −.17, p =.07) or TRIN-r (rs = −.10, p =.31), Sentence Comprehension was significantly correlated with VRIN-r (rs = −.27, p =.01). A hierarchical regression predicting VRIN-r scores indicated that WRAT-4 Sentence Comprehension significantly accounted for an additional 5.4% of the variance in VRIN-r scores after accounting for self-reported education level and Word Reading (p =.03). However, Word Reading did not significantly account for any additional variance in VRIN-r after accounting for Education and Sentence Comprehension (incremental R2 =.001, p =.74). These results suggest that Sentence Comprehension (rather than Word Reading) should be assessed prior to administering psychological testing, especially in forensic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examined whether the 5 Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011) Suicidal/Death Ideation (SUI) items (93, 120, 164, 251, and 334) would provide incremental suicide-risk assessment information after accounting for information garnered from clinical interview questions. Among 229 forensic inpatients (146 men, 83 women) who were administered the MMPI-2-RF, 34.9% endorsed at least 1 SUI item. We found that patients who endorsed SUI items on the MMPI-2-RF concurrently denied conceptually related suicide-risk information during the clinical interview. For instance, 8% of the sample endorsed Item 93 (indicating recent suicidal ideation), yet denied current suicidal ideation upon interview. Conversely, only 2.2% of the sample endorsed current suicidal ideation during the interview, yet denied recent suicidal ideation on Item 93. The SUI scale, as well as the MMPI-2-RF Demoralization (RCd) and Low Positive Emotions (RC2) scales, correlated significantly and meaningfully with conceptually related suicide-risk information from the interview, including history of suicide attempts, history of suicidal ideation, current suicidal ideation, and months since last suicide attempt. We also found that the SUI scale added incremental variance (after accounting for information garnered from the interview and after accounting for scores on RCd and RC2) to predictions of future suicidal behavior within 1 year of testing. Relative risk ratios indicated that both SUI-item endorsement and the presence of interview-reported risk information significantly and meaningfully increased the risk of suicidal behavior in the year following testing, particularly when endorsement of suicidal ideation occurred for both methods of self-report. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Misinterpretation of non-content-based invalid (e.g., random, fixed) responding as overreporting or underreporting is likely to adversely impact test interpretation and could bias inferences about examinee intentions. We examined the impact of non-content-based invalid responding on the following Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) content-based invalid responding indicators: Infrequent Responses (F-r), Infrequent Psychopathology Responses (FP-r), Infrequent Somatic Responses (FS), Symptom Validity (FBS-r), Response Bias Scale (RBS), Uncommon Virtues (L-r), and Adjustment Validity (K-r). In 4 samples from which invalid responders were excluded, we systematically inserted increasing percentages of random, acquiescent, or counter-acquiescent item responses ranging from 0% to 100% and examined the impact that non-content-based invalid response styles had on the content-based invalid responding indicators. F-r, FP-r, FS, RBS, and L-r were susceptible to non-content-based invalid responding, whereas FBS-r and K-r were unaffected. Individuals with Variable Response Inconsistency (VRIN-r) and True Response Inconsistency (TRIN-r) elevations were removed, and the frequencies of content-based invalid responding elevations were then reexamined for false indications of feigning. Findings were consistent across samples and emphasize the need to screen for non-content-based invalid responding before screening for content-based invalid responding in the assessment of personality and psychopathology. VRIN-r and TRIN-r were useful in detecting most-but not all-cases of non-content-based invalid responding. A small but meaningful percentage of the remaining individuals were misclassified as overreporters (i.e., false feigners) by FP-r and FS. Clinicians should interpret FP-r and FS with some caution in the presence of moderate levels of non-content-based invalid responding. Post hoc examinations of scale characteristics indicated that the most susceptible scales were brief, consisted of rarely endorsed items, included a relatively high percentage of true-keyed items, and required a low percentage of endorsed items to reach clinical significance. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary models of psychopathology—encompassing internalizing, externalizing, and thought dysfunction factors—have gained significant support. Although research indicates the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 Restructured Form (MMPI–2–RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011) measures these domains of psychopathology, this study addresses extant limitations in MMPI–2–RF diagnostic validity research by examining associations between all MMPI–2–RF substantive scales and broad dichotomous indicators of internalizing, externalizing, and thought dysfunction diagnoses in a sample of 1,110 forensic inpatients. Comparing those with and without internalizing diagnoses, notable effects were observed for Negative Emotionality/Neuroticism–Revised (NEGE-r), Emotional/Internalizing Dysfunction (EID), Dysfunctional Negative Emotions (RC7), Demoralization (RCd), and several other internalizing and somatic/cognitive scales. Comparing those with and without thought dysfunction diagnoses, the largest hypothesized differences occurred for Thought Dysfunction (THD), Aberrant Experiences (RC8), and Psychoticism–Revised (PSYC-r), although unanticipated differences were observed on internalizing and interpersonal scales, likely reflecting the high prevalence of internalizing dysfunction in forensic inpatients not experiencing thought dysfunction. Comparing those with and without externalizing diagnoses, the largest effects were for Substance Abuse (SUB), Antisocial Behavior (RC4), Behavioral/Externalizing Dysfunction (BXD), Juvenile Conduct Problems (JCP), and Disconstraint–Revised (DISC-r). Multivariate models evidenced similar results. Findings support the construct validity of MMPI–2–RF scales as measures of internalizing, thought, and externalizing dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) F(p) (Infrequency-Psychopathology) scale was developed to measure overreporting in a manner that was minimally confounded by genuine psychopathology, which was a problem with using the MMPI-2 F (Infrequency) scale among patients with severe mental illness. Although revised versions of both of these scales are included on the MMPI-2-Restructured Form and used in a forensic context, no item-level research has been conducted on their sensitivity to genuine psychopathology among forensic psychiatric inpatients. Therefore, we examined the psychometric properties of the scales in a sample of 438 criminally committed forensic psychiatric inpatients who were adjudicated as not guilty by reason of insanity and had no known incentive to overreport. We found that 20 of the 21 Fp-r items (95.2%) demonstrated endorsement rates ≤ 20%, with 14 of the items (66.7%) endorsed by less than 10% of the sample. Similar findings were observed across genders and across patients with mood and psychotic disorders. The one item endorsed by more than 20% of the sample had a 23.7% overall endorsement rate and significantly different endorsement rates across ethnic groups, with the highest endorsements occurring among Hispanic/Latino (43.3% endorsement rate) patients. Endorsement rates of F-r items were generally higher than for Fp-r items. At the scale level, we also examined correlations with the Restructured Clinical Scales and found that Fp-r demonstrated lower correlations than F-r, indicating that Fp-r is less associated with a broad range of psychopathology. Finally, we found that Fp-r demonstrated slightly higher specificity values than F-r at all T score cutoffs. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]