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Our study compared the impact of administering Symptom Validity Tests (SVTs) and Performance Validity Tests (PVTs) in in-person versus remote formats and assessed different approaches to combining validity test results. Using the MMPI-2-RF, IOP-29, IOP-M, and FIT, we assessed 164 adults, with half instructed to feign mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and half to respond honestly. Within each subgroup, half completed the tests in person, and the other half completed them online via videoconferencing. Results from 2 ×2 analyses of variance showed no significant effects of administration format on SVT and PVT scores. When comparing feigners to controls, the MMPI-2-RF RBS exhibited the largest effect size (d = 3.05) among all examined measures. Accordingly, we conducted a series of two-step hierarchical logistic regression models by entering the MMPI-2-RF RBS first, followed by each other SVT and PVT individually. We found that the IOP-29 and IOP-M were the only measures that yielded incremental validity beyond the effects of the MMPI-2-RF RBS in predicting group membership. Taken together, these findings suggest that administering these SVTs and PVTs in-person or remotely yields similar results, and the combination of MMPI and IOP indexes might be particularly effective in identifying feigned mTBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In psychological assessment, employing a multi-method, multi-informant, and multi-conceptual approach is recommended (Bornstein, 2017). To enrich our understanding in evidence-guided composition of assessment instruments that encompass all these aspects, this study investigates the convergent validity of the SWAP-200 Personality Syndromes (PS) and Trait Dimensions (TD) scales with the MMPI-2-RF PSY-5-r scales, as well as the impact of divergent respondent types on process-focused validity in a clinical sample (n= 52). The study reveals several significant correlations between the SWAP-200 PS scales and MMPI-2-RF PSY-5-r scales that align with conceptual expectations, indicating convergent validity. While significant correlations were observed between TD and PSY-5-r scales, some of these deviated from expectations, most probably due to sample composition and respondent type. In all, results support previous research on the overlap between SWAP-200 scales and trait dimension measures, underscore the usage of both maladaptive dimensional traits (MMPI-2-RF PSY-5-r) and prototypes of personality functioning (SWAP-200 PS), and emphasize their utility as part of a multi-faceted approach in psychological assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the effectiveness of bariatric surgery, utilization rates have increased only marginally over the last 2 decades; candidates who are eligible for bariatric surgery regularly fail to undergo surgery. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) has previously been used to assist in identification of those who will not move forward with surgery after being identified as eligible. However, medical insurance has been identified as a significant barrier to surgery; research in those who have universal healthcare may yield different results. Determine if MMPI-RF scales are associated with failure to undergo bariatric surgery in patients eligible to have the procedure. Large military hospital in the Northwestern U.S. This study used archival data for 279 patients psychologically screened for eligibility for bariatric surgery. All assessments took place between January 2017 and December 2019. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare groups of patients who did and did not have surgery on relevant medical and demographic variables. Profile analyses of patient MMPI-2-RF scores were conducted to examine scale associations with undergoing surgery. A total of 86 bariatric surgery candidates (30.8%) did not undergo surgery. Results showed that sex, age, employment status, and arthritis were different between groups. Additionally, MMPI-2-RF scales were different between groups, including somatic complaints, neurological complaints, cynicism, and helplessness/hopelessness. MMPI-2-RF scales were associated with not having bariatric surgery, although not all scales exceeded clinical cut-offs. Findings indicate psychological and psychosocial differences, rather than psychopathology per se, may play a role in who undergoes bariatric surgery. • Even when insurance is not a barrier, some patients fail to undergo bariatric surgery. • Some Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form scales were associated with not having bariatric surgery. • Findings did not fully replicate previous work on not proceeding with bariatric surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was designed to assess the Section II personality disorders (PDs) of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) using two common self-report personality assessment measures, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) and Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5). The sample comprised 320 Iranian outpatients who completed the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5-Screening Personality Questionnaire (SCID-5-SPQ), PID-5, and MMPI-2-RF. To determine how the DSM-5 Section II PDs were associated with these two measures, we conducted Spearman correlations, a series of count regression models, and exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) analyses. The regression models revealed that although the DSM-5 Section II PDs associated with the hierarchical model of the MMPI-2-RF, there were also a few unexpected findings, reflecting some variations on personality psychopathology across this clinical sample. Likewise, the joint structure of SCID-5-SPQ along with PID-5 facets and MMPI-2-RF scales revealed an interpretable pattern of factor loadings that generally corresponded to anticipated theoretical models. The authors discuss the implications of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic pain is a debilitating condition for many military Veterans and is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) in 144 Veterans (88.2% male, mean age = 57.95 years) recruited from a VA outpatient pain clinic and associations with self-reported pain severity, pain-related interference in daily activities, prescription opioid use, and objective metrics of physical performance on tasks impacted by pain (walking, stair climbing, grip strength, indexed by a single latent variable). Among the cohort with valid responses on the MMPI-2-RF (n = 117) and probable PTSD, mean Somatic Complaints (RC1) and Ideas of Persecution (RC6) scores were clinically elevated. All MMPI-2-RF scales were more strongly correlated with self-reported pain interference than severity. Regressions revealed associations between self-rated pain interference (but not pain or PTSD severity) and physical performance scores (β =.36, p =.001). MMPI-2-RF overreporting Validity and Higher-Order scales contributed incremental variance in predicting physical performance, including Infrequent Psychopathology Responses (β =.33, p =.002). PTSD severity was associated with prescription opioid use when accounting for the effects of over-reported somatic and cognitive symptoms (odds ratio 1.05, p ≤.025). Results highlight the role of symptom overreporting and perceptions of functional impairment to observable behaviors among individuals with chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Response Bias Scale (RBS) is the central measure of cognitive over-reporting in the MMPI-family of instruments. Relative to other clinical populations, the research evaluating the detection of over-reporting is more limited in Veteran and Active-Duty personnel, which has produced some psychometric variability across studies. Some have suggested that the original scale construction methods resulted in items which negatively impact classification accuracy and in response crafted an abbreviated version of the RBS (RBS-19; Ratcliffe et al., 2022; Spencer et al., 2022). In addition, the most recent edition of the MMPI is based on new normative data, which impacts the ability to use existing literature to determine effective cut-scores for the RBS (despite all items having been retained across MMPI versions). To date, no published research exists for the MMPI-3 RBS. The current study examined the utility of the RBS and the RBS-19 in a sample of Active-Duty personnel (n = 186) referred for neuropsychological evaluation. Using performance validity tests as the study criterion, we found that the RBS-19 was generally equitably to RBS in classification. Correlations with other MMPI-2-RF over- and under-reporting symptom validity tests were slightly stronger for RBS-19. Implications and directions for research and practice with RBS/RBS-19 are discussed, along with implications for neuropsychological assessment and response validity theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robinson and Rogers (J Psychopathol Behav Assess 40(3):376–385, 2018) introduced an ADHD Dissimulation (Ds-ADHD) Scale for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) that has not yet been clinically validated. The current study examined its utility among a sample of U.S. Veterans. The sample (n = 236) was separately divided according to Performance and Symptom Validity Tests. The relationships between the Ds-ADHD scale and other standard measures were also examined. The Ds-ADHD scale effectively classified cases according to both performance and symptom validity statuses, but the sensitivity was lower than was previously observed. While there was poor discrimination according to performance validity status, there was acceptable discrimination according to symptom validity status. The Ds-ADHD scale identified group status over and above the traditional MMPI-2-RF validity scales. Ds-ADHD scores from participants who produced credible performance were not significantly correlated with performance on a sustained attention test. Results provided limited support for the use of Ds-ADHD scale during neuropsychological evaluations in which there is a question about a potential adult ADHD diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigeria, the largest country on the continent of Africa, has been fighting wars with the proclaimed terrorist group Boko Haram. Currently, Boko Haram has between 1,500 and 2,000 fighters; most documentation about them is either a position paper or a situation review. There is scanty data on the personality and psychological assessment of Boko Haram terrorists using a standardized self-report inventory. Hence, this study aims to describe and explore the profile of the Boko Haram suspects on all the scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form. Eleven respondents were purposefully recruited because they were the only ones incarcerated at the ‘Kiri-kiri’ Prison facility at the time of this research. Their scores on the inventory were descriptively analyzed. More of these terrorists endorsed significant scores or symptoms of emotional/internalizing dysfunction (EID), somatic complaints (RC1), antisocial behavior (RC4), ideas of persecution (RC6), gastrointestinal complaints (GIC), neurological complaints (NUC), suicidal/death ideation (SUI), anxiety (AXY), shyness (SHY), and disaffiliativeness (DSF), while elevated scores or severe symptoms were reported on stress/worry (STW) and psychoticism (PSYC-r). This research provides personality and psychological assessments of Boko Haram terrorists for the first time using MMPI-2-RF, though it is limited by sample size. Therefore, a larger sample size may be needed for further studies and the ability to make inferences and generalizations.

Evaluation of criminal thinking is important in correctional assessments because of its salience to recidivism, or relapse of criminal behavior. The Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) is a common instrument which assesses criminal thinking, one of the most salient risk factors of recidivism. However, little is known about the accuracy of the validity scales of this instrument. This study examines the effectiveness of the PICTS' over-reporting validity indicator, the Confusion-revised (Cf-r) scale, using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form's (MMPI-2-RF) over-reporting validity scales as criterion measures. The sample is composed of 165 mostly white (66%), mid-to-late 20 s (M = 27.4 years old, SD = 8.3), males who underwent a mental health evaluation in a court-ordered residential treatment facility. All participants had a prior substance-use-disorder diagnosis and moderate to high criminal risk. Mean comparisons across MMPI-2-RF recommended over-reporting scales as well as classification accuracy analyses were conducted. The results support the use of the PICTS recommended cut-score for Cf-r, as it produced high specificity (> 0.90) and strong area under the curve (AUC) classification accuracy (AUC = 0.76, 95% CI = [0.67, 0.84]). The implications for this study are the discussions in terms of criminal-thinking evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Šiame straipsnyje buvo tikrinamas MMPI-2 ir MMPI-2-RF validumo skalių gebėjimas reaguoti į psichopatologijos simuliaciją ir disimuliaciją. Buvo atlikti du eksperimentai. Simuliacijos tyrime dalyvavo 66 dalyviai (33 kontrolinėje grupėje ir 33 eksperimentinėje grupėje, amžius M = 36,76, SD = 15,24), o disimuliacijos tyrime dalyvavo 60 psichikos sutrikimo diagnozę turinčių pacientų (30 kontrolinėje grupėje ir 30 eksperimentinėje grupėje, M = 40,32, SD = 15,79). Abiejuose eksperimentuose visi dalyviai pildė MMPI-2 klausimyną. Kontrolinės grupės dalyviams buvo pateikiamos standartinės instrukcijos, o eksperimentinių grupių dalyviai gavo instrukcijas, nurodančias simuliuoti psichikos sutrikimų simptomus arba pateikti save kaip visiškai sveikus. MMPI-2 skalių, skirtų vertinti psichopatologijai, numatomos krypties skirtumai tarp eksperimentinių ir kontrolinių grupių parodė, kad tyrimo instrukcija turėjo poveikio tyrimo dalyvių atsakymams. Validumo skalių palyginimo rezultatai parodė, kad didžioji dalis MMPI-2 ir MMPI-2-RF skalių reaguoja į bandymą pateikti melagingą informaciją apie save. Validumo skalių įverčiai kontrolinėse ir eksperimentinėse grupėse statistiškai reikšmingai skyrėsi ir tiriant simuliaciją, ir disimuliaciją, o skirtumo efektas dažniausiai buvo didelis. Gauti rezultatai rodo, kad MMPI-2 ir MMPI-2-RF geba sėkmingai atpažinti psichopatologijos simuliaciją ir disimuliaciją, o tai gali turėti praktinės vertės specialistams, siekiantiems psichologinio vertinimo metu diferencijuoti sąžiningai atsakinėjančius tiriamuosius nuo meluojančiųjų.

In clinical and empirical literature, there are many different conceptualizations of the construct of narcissism, but most will agree that narcissism includes at least two broad dimensions: grandiosity and vulnerability. The aim of this study was to corroborate both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism constructs by extending the nomologic net of both dimensions. We therefore investigated the convergences and divergences of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI) dimensions with the Personality Psychopathology Five-revised (PSY-5-r) trait domains and other Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) scales in a community sample (N= 251). Results showed that there is clear and conceptually logical convergence between the PNI scales and MMPI-2-RF PSY-5-r trait domains and other MMPI-2-RF scales. Also, the narcissism factors diverge like expected in terms of associations with MMPI-2-RF scales capturing internalizing aspects. Internalizing MMPI-2-RF scales showed positive relations with vulnerability and negative relations with grandiosity. Moreover, grandiosity did relate positively MMPI-2-RF externalizing scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the utility of the validity scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) for detecting feigned Attention-Deficit Hyperreactivity Disorder (ADHD), we utilized a simulation design. Method: We examined group differences across the Restructured Clinical (RC) and validity scales as well as the classification ability of the validity scales across three cut scores. Analyses were conducted across five simulation groups (N = 177) and a standard instruction group (N = 32). Results: Across most of the RC and validity scales, those feigning ADHD produced significantly higher scores than the standard instruction group, but generally no significant differences between the feigning groups were demonstrated. The most promising scales for detecting feigned ADHD were F-r, Fp-r, and Fs at cut scores in the 70 T to 80 T range, respectively. Conclusions: Results support the use of the MMPI-2-RF in ADHD evaluations with scores on F-r, Fs, and Fp-r being particularly useful in detecting feigned ADHD in college students. However, there was no evidence to support the feigning of distinct ADHD symptoms presentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tazkiya Journal of Psychology is the property of Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study aimed to identify the critical factors discriminating individuals at high risk for recidivism among criminal offenders based on psychopathological characteristics. Data was collected from 182 violent offenders using psychological testing from prosecutors' offices nationwide in Korea between 2017 and 2022. The offenders were divided into two groups based on the Korean Offender Recidivism Assessment System Scale-General (KORAS-G) and the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), which are two major risk assessments in the Korean criminal justice system. Multiple comparisons were performed using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2nd edition Restructured Form (MMPI−2-RF), and discriminant function analysis was used to identify the scales with discriminative power and hierarchical structure of relative contribution for the two risk recidivism assessments. This study highlights the utility of MMPI−2-RF in comprehensive assessments for decision-making in sentencing and judgment in the legal system. We discussed violent recidivism in the context of externalizing dysfunction, vulnerabilities in interpersonal relationships, pathological history of misconduct/antisociality and risk-taking motivation. This study calls for attention to the domestic situation of risk assessment and suggests future directions in recidivism prediction with the practical utility of MMPI−2-RF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maladaptive trait model of personality has gained popularity in the assessment of personality pathology. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2-RF) is a widely used instrument to measure maladaptive traits, by means of the Personality Psychopathology 5 (PSY-5-r) scales. Polarity of these maladaptive trait measures—whether these traits are unipolar or bipolar maladaptive—has not been empirically established in the literature. In a clinical sample (N = 275), we investigated content polarity of these traits in relation to 25 psychological symptoms, measured by the Patient Description Form. Hierarchical regression analyses were applied to compare linear and curvilinear models and determine optimal fit. The results provided evidence for content unipolarity of all five traits, with small exceptions. We conclude that, in practice, the MMPI-2-RF PSY-5-r scales do not assess the PSY-5 theoretical model as expected, such that the higher the score on these scales the more it is likely impairing or impacting daily functioning. Conceptual and clinical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is relatively unclear if underreporting (UR) detected by Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) L-r (Uncommon Virtues) and K-r (Adjustment Validity) scale scores generalizes to score distortion on criterion measures differently based on test-takers having scored highly on L-r, K-r, or both. Thus, this study reanalyzed the correctional sample of 632 men previously presented by Forbey and colleagues and defined UR groups as high scores on L-r alone (n = 89), K-r alone (n = 45), or both (n = 29). Groups were compared on selected MMPI-2-RF and criterion scales assessing internalizing, externalizing, and thought dysfunction difficulties using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc tests. Results suggested that UR generalized to score distortion on collateral measures, with K-r outperforming L-r in the prediction of this generalizability on all but measures of specific externalizing difficulties. However, having elevations on both L-r and K-r resulted in the strongest pattern of generalizability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific response attitudes towards a test may affect, or even prevent, the interpretation of its results. Underreporting and over-reporting attitudes bring about some relevant issues in psychological assessment, and research in this area is generally based upon simulation designs, carrying several limitations. This study analyzed samples from “real” contexts, with different expected prevalence of specific response attitudes, aiming to identify their frequency and subtypes, as well as their impact on clinical and personality substantive scales. With the MMPI-2-RF, 1566 participants of Community, Organizational, and Clinical samples were assessed. The Clinical sample showed a marked tendency for an over-report attitude (40%) and a low tendency for under-reporting; the Organizational sample did not present over-reporting and had the highest values of under-reporting (55%); the Community sample presented inexpressive values of both under-reporting (5%) and over-reporting (8%). These response attitudes showed to have a significant and generalized impact on the substantive scales assessing clinical symptoms, behavior tendencies, and personality traits. Different subtypes of under-reporting and over-reporting attitudes were explored, in the Organizational and Clinical samples, respectively. Relevant implications for psychological assessment in these contexts are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psychology / Psichologija is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Survivors of electrical injury often undergo neuropsychological evaluations to assess for post-injury cognitive and emotional sequelae, often in a medical-legal context as these injuries tend to be work-related. During these evaluations, neuropsychologists evaluate symptom and performance validity to ascertain whether the examinee is credibly reporting symptoms and adequately engaged in cognitive testing, respectively. Previous studies have separately identified (1) a high rate of invalid test performance among this population and (2) evidence of elevated symptom-reporting on the Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). However, no studies have evaluated the concordance between these two types of validity assessment within an electrical injury sample. As such, this study examined the concordance between symptom over-reporting scores on the MMPI-2-RF and performance validity test results. Concordance rates varied based on number on the number of symptom validity scale elevations employed to determine invalid symptom reporting, as well as evaluating for differences based on any symptom over-reporting versus definite over-reporting ranges. Highest concordance between validity performance was found when using (1) ≥ 3 validity scale elevations in the possible over-reporting range, or (2) ≥ 1 scale elevation indicative of definite over-reporting. This variability in performance and symptom validity concordance rates suggests that although the validity constructs are related, they are measuring nonredundant information in an electrical injury sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utility of symptom (SVT) and performance (PVT) validity tests has been independently established in neuropsychological evaluations, yet research on the relationship between these two types of validity indices is limited to circumscribed populations and measures. This study examined the relationship between SVTs on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) and PVTs in a mixed neuropsychiatric setting. This cross-sectional study included data from 181 diagnostically and demographically diverse patients with neuropsychiatric conditions referred for outpatient clinical neuropsychological evaluation at an academic medical center. All patients were administered a uniform neuropsychological battery, including the MMPI-2-RF and five PVTs (i.e., Dot Counting Test; Medical Symptom Validity Test; Reliable Digit Span; Test of Memory Malingering-Trial 1; Word Choice Test). Nonsignificant associations emerged between SVT and PVT performance. Although the Response Bias Scale was most predictive of PVT performance, MMPI-2-RF SVTs generally had low classification accuracy for predicting PVT performance. Neuropsychological test performance was related to MMPI-2-RF SVT status only when overreporting elevations were at extreme scores. The current study further supports that SVTs and PVTs measure unique and dissociable constructs among diverse patients with neuropsychiatric conditions, consistent with literature from other clinical contexts. Therefore, objective evidence of symptom overreporting on MMPI-2-RF SVTs cannot be interpreted as definitively indicating invalid performance on tests of neurocognitive abilities. As such, clinicians should include both SVTs and PVTs as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation as they provide unique information regarding performance and symptom validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical-organizational context (where clinical psychology services are provided in the individuals' professional setting) has still been insufficiently approached in research, namely the influence it may have on the response attitudes of individuals undergoing psychological assessment. Our main goal is to find out if, when psychological assessment occurs in the workplace context, patients being assessed present specific response bias that may have implications for the clinical results and correlative decisions. Five hundred and ten adult participants grouped in two samples of ambulatory patients - Clinical-Organizational Sample (COS n = 238) and Clinical Sample (CS n = 272) - were assessed with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-RF validity and substantive scales. Under-reporting is five times more frequent in the COS, which presents Defensiveness (11%), and Desirability (5%). In the CS, under-reporting is residual and over-reporting is more prevalent than in the COS. Clinical record information of COS participants presenting under vs . over-reporting also reveal differences concerning their circumstances, and type of clinical conditions. Comparing participants with under-reporting in each sample, the COS had lower clinical profiles, and tended to present excessively low psychopathology and symptomology values, suggesting higher defensiveness. Finally, the fact that 33% of the COS present biased response attitudes (i.e., 15% presented under-reporting and 18% presented over-reporting) has implications for both clinical and career decision making processes. In conclusion, there are relevant differences in response attitude and psychopathology features between outpatients assessed in a traditional clinical setting and in a clinical-organizational one, suggesting the professional context of the patients may influence motivations to disclosure psychological symptoms and problems., Competing Interests: The authors have no competing interests to declare., (Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s).)

This study sought to test if trait levels of impulsivity were related in a nonmonotonic manner to success on a laboratory task of impulsivity. Participants completed the MMPI-2-RF, a self-report measure of psychopathology, and the Angling Risk Task (ART), a laboratory measure of impulsivity. Variables of interest were T-scores on the MMPI-2-RF scale Behavioral/Externalizing Dysfunction (BXD) and total money earned on the ART, which was conceptualized as a measure of success on the task. After screening, the sample consisted of 173 undergraduate students. The findings showed no evidence to support a nonmonotonic relationship between BXD scores and success on the Angling Risk Task when tested by (1) polynomial regression, and (2) the two lines test, a procedure recently developed to detect nonmonotonicity. Results do not support the hypothesis of an optimal level of impulsivity, at least in a nonclinical population and with a laboratory operationalization of impulsivity. Future studies should examine this question in samples with greater variability and using more consequential operationalizations of impulsivity.

To determine if the number of participants with psychiatric disorders increased in association with failures on symptom validity tests (SVTs) and a performance validity test (PVT) in Veterans admitted for evaluation of possible seizures. The 254 participants were Veterans undergoing inpatient video-EEG monitoring for the diagnosis of possible seizures. DSM-IV psychiatric disorders were diagnosed with the SCID IV. Symptom exaggeration was assessed with the MMPI-2-RF and performance validity with the TOMM. On the MMPI-2-RF, 27.6%–32.7% showed symptom exaggeration. Participants who exaggerated on the MMPI-2-RF were more often diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. The TOMM was failed by 15.4% of the sample. Participants who failed the TOMM were more often diagnosed with an Axis I disorder but not with a personality disorder. The MMPI-2-RF was invalid in more cases than the TOMM, but 7.9% of the sample generated a valid MMPI-2-RF and an invalid TOMM. The correlational design does not allow conclusions about cause and effect. The invalid groups may have had a higher rate of psychopathology. The number of participants with psychiatric disorders increased in association with symptom exaggeration and performance invalidity. Symptom exaggeration was more frequent than performance invalidity, but the TOMM made a unique contribution to identification of invalidity. The routine clinical use of SVTs and PVTs is supported. The results also suggest the need for caution in diagnosing psychiatric disorders when there is symptom exaggeration or performance invalidity, because diagnostic validity is dependent on the accuracy of symptom reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory‐2‐Restructured Form (MMPI‐2‐RF Ben‐Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011) has been applied to suicide risk assessment through derived proxy indices of perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and the acquired capability for suicide (Anestis et al., 2018, Joiner, 2005). However, limited research has examined the clinical utility of these proxy indices outside the outpatient setting. This study examined the performance of these proxy indices in identifying past‐month suicide ideation intensity and attempts upon admission to a psychiatric inpatient program and changes in suicidal ideation intensity at discharge. We expected these indices and their interaction would be associated with suicide ideation intensity and attempts at baseline and with a lack of significant improvement in suicide ideation intensity at discharge, including when controlling for MMPI‐2‐RF Suicide/Death Ideation (SUI) scale scores. Method: Participants were 1007 patients in a private inpatient psychiatric hospital in the southwestern United States, 968 of whom completed study measures at admission and discharge. Participants were administered the C‐SSRS and MMPI‐2‐RF upon admission, while the C‐SSRS was administered again prior to discharge. A series of moderation analyses were conducted to examine the main and interaction effects of the MMPI‐2‐RF derived proxy indices on suicidal ideation intensity and suicide attempts at admission. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine whether MMPI‐2‐RF proxy index scores at admission were associated with changes in suicidal ideation intensity at discharge. Results: Neither the proxy indices nor their interaction was associated with all study outcomes. The acquired capability for suicide proxy index and its interaction with other indices were not associated with suicide attempt status at admission. However, high thwarted belongingness proxy index scores were associated with greater suicidal ideation intensity at admission; high perceived burdensomeness proxy index scores were indicative of a lack of significant change in suicide ideation intensity at discharge. Conclusion: These results indicate a need to further examine these proxy indices in high acuity samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prescription-related opioid misuse, especially in chronic pain populations, is an ongoing problem and is related to increased mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of two restructured scales of the MMPI-2-RF: the Personality Psychopathology Five (PSY-5-RF) and the Higher-Order Scales to determine which of their subscales may be beneficial for identifying the risk of opioid misuse in a chronic pain population. A sample of 136 patients with chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorders completed the MMPI-2-RF and the Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) upon admission to a functional restoration program. The PSY-5-RF and H–O subscales were correlated with the baseline COMM scores. Correlation analyses, ROC curve analyses, and multiple binary logistic regression models were developed to determine which subscales were most associated with elevated COMM scores. The results of the regression analyses suggest that Scale elevations on two of the PSY-5-RF Scales and two Higher-Order Scales of the MMPI-2-RF demonstrated significant associations with elevated COMM scores, thus exhibiting the utility of these subscales in identifying the risk of opioid misuse among chronic pain patients. These findings are clinically meaningful in underscoring the importance of identifying specific personality traits as potential predictors of opioid misuse, and identifying those at risk through careful screening. Clinical implications based on each of the PSY-5-RF and H–O scales significantly associated with elevated COMM scores are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop an MMPI-2-RF reference group for persistently symptomatic patients with mTBI in order to aid interpretation and better evaluate atypical scale elevations. Using the Q Local MMPI-2-RF Comparison Group Generator (CGG), 200 valid MMPI-2-RF profiles were aggregated for mTBI outpatients with persisting symptoms 2–24 months post injury. Compared to established MMPI general population norms, individuals with persisting symptoms demonstrated elevations on several scales, primarily in cognitive and somatic domains. T scores > 60 and standard deviations > 10 were observed for the F-r (Infrequent Responses), Fs (Infrequent Somatic Responses), FBS-r (Symptom Validity), RBS (Response Bias Scale), RC1 (Somatic Complaints), MLS (Malaise), HPC (Head Pain Complaints), NUC (Neurological Complaints), and COG (Cognitive Complaints) scales. All other scales were consistent with established norms for the general population. This study is the first to establish an empirically derived MMPI reference group for individuals with persisting symptoms following mTBI. By comparing MMPI profiles of patients with mTBI against this reference group, clinicians may be better able to identify abnormal symptomatology. Evaluating profiles within this context may allow for more accurate case conceptualization and targeted treatment recommendations for those patients who demonstrate disproportionate symptomatology outside the range of the mTBI reference group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: More empirical research is needed to disentangle the phenotypes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cluster C personality symptomatology (CCPD), as both show similarities in their clinical presentation. We explored personality and psychopathology dimensions as conceptualized in contemporary dimensional taxonomies (i.e., hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology; HiTOP) in adults with ASD without intellectual disability operationalized by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). Method: Applying secondary analytic processes using clinical data, we crossexamined the MMPI-2-RF profiles of adults with ASD (n = 28) compared to adults with Cluster C personality disorders (CCPD; n = 28) and a control group (n = 28) by conducting nonparametric tests and assessing effect sizes. Results: The profiles of the ASD and CCPD groups evidenced to be similar, and both average clinical profiles diverged from the average control group profiles by elevated levels of demoralization, internalizing, and somatization symptomatology. There were small differences between the average profiles of adults with ASD and adults with CCPD. Additional research using dimensional measures of psychopathology could elucidate the dimensional phenotypes of ASD and CCPD. Conclusions: Based on the results in this study, the MMPI-2-RF may not meaningfully discriminate between the two clinical presentations, with the exception of various externalizing scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2003, several American publications have appeared on "Restructured Clinical Scales RC". These scales were constructed in contradiction with the empirical psychometric strategy adopted from the outset for the MMPI (1943) and MMPI-2 (1989). Rather, the RC scales are based on a theory-factor strategy, which long-time MMPI/MMPI-2 experts disavow because it does not fulfill its promise of validity. In 2003, the RC scales (Tellegen et al., 2003) were first arbitrarily grafted to the set of empirical MMPI-2 scales. Then, in 2008 (see Tellegen and Ben-Porath), they were instead integrated as an asset to a brand-new instrument based on factor analysis, called MMPI-2-RF on the sole basis of borrowing 338 of the 567 items of the MMPI-2. The background to this article is therefore the possible adulteration of the most important personality test used in forensic expertise and in clinical contexts. Our goal is to review both the psychometric foundations of the MMPI-2 and the value of these RC scales (Tellegen et al., 2003) in the now open confrontation with the MMPI-2.

Depuis 2003, plusieurs publications américaines ont paru sur les "échelles Cliniques Restructurées RC". Ces échelles ont été construites en contradiction avec la stratégie psychométrique empirique adoptée d'emblée pour le MMPI (1943) et le MMPI-2 (1989). Les échelles RC sont plutôt basées sur une stratégie théorique-factorielle, que les experts de longue date des MMPI/MMPI-2 désavouent parce qu'elle ne remplit pas sa promesse de validité. En 2003, les échelles RC (Tellegen et coll., 2003) ont d'abord été ajoutées arbitrairement à l'ensemble des échelles empiriques du MMPI-2. Puis, en 2008 (voir Tellegen et Ben-Porath), elles ont plutôt été intégrées comme un atout à un tout nouvel instrument basé sur l'analyse factorielle, appelé MMPI-2-RF sur la seule base de l'emprunt de 338 des 567 items du MMPI-2. Le présent article a donc comme toile de fond la compromission possible du plus important test de personnalité utilisé en expertise psycholégale et en contexte clinique. Le but est de faire le point à la fois sur les fondements psychométriques du MMPI-2, ainsi que sur la valeur de ces échelles RC (Tellegen et coll., 2003) en affrontement maintenant ouvert avec le MMPI-2. \\ Since 2003, several American publications have appeared on the "Restructured Clinical Scales RC". These scales were constructed in contradiction with the empirical psychometric strategy adopted from the outset for the MMPI (1943) and MMPI-2 (1989). Rather, RC scales are based on a theoretical-factorial strategy, which longtime MMPI / MMPI-2 experts disavow because they do not fulfill their promise of validity. In 2003, these RC scales (Tellegen et al., 2003) were first arbitrarily grafted to the set of empirical MMPI-2 scales. Then, in 2008 (see Tellegen and Ben-Porath), they were instead integrated as an asset to a brand new instrument based on factor analysis, called MMPI-2-RF on the sole basis of the borrowing of 338 of the 567 items of the MMPI-2. The background to this article is therefore the possible compromise of the most important personality test used in forensic expertise and in a clinical context. The goal is to review both the psychometric foundations of MMPI-2, as well as the value of these RC scales (Tellegen et al., 2003) in the now open confrontation with MMPI-2.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System–29 (PROMIS-29) are used to assess patient psychology, pain, and quality of life. As psychological factors, such as depression and anxiety, are associated with poor perioperative outcomes, we aim to translate MMPI-2-RF values to PROMIS-29 scores and establish cutoff values for PROMIS-29 anxiety and depression domains that might warrant attention preoperatively. Seventy adult patients scheduled for an elective spinal surgery between July 2018 and February 2020 who completed both the MMPI-2-RF and PROMIS-29 preoperatively at a single institution were reviewed. Patients with MMPI-2-RF scores of 65 or greater (the cutoff for psychopathology) in the emotional/internalizing dysfunction scale (4.29%) had an average PROMIS-29 depression score of 14.33, which is significantly higher than the control group's (<65 score) 8.49 score (P = 0.04). Similarly, those demonstrating psychopathology on the demoralization (4.29%) and helplessness/hopelessness (4.29%) scales had average PROMIS-29 depression scores significantly higher than the control group's averages (15.33 vs. 8.45, P = 0.02 and 14.33 vs. 8.49, P = 0.04, respectively). Patients with an MMPI-2-RF score of 65 or greater on the emotional/internalizing dysfunction (4.29%), stress/worry (10.00%), and anxiety (7.14%) scales had average PROMIS-29 anxiety domain scores of 15, 15, and 15, respectively, which were significantly greater than that of the control group's scores (8.94, P = 0.04; 8.75, P = 0.004; and 8.55, P < 0.001, respectively). PROMIS-29 scores of 15 or greater on the depression and anxiety domains may have psychopathologies that warrant addressing, given their increased likelihood of having poor outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The examination of violence perpetrated by female offenders remains an understudied topic, as research typically focuses on male offender samples. As such, it remains unclear what personality characteristics may be associated with the perpetration of violence among female offenders. This study sought to examine the relationship between personality characteristics, as assessed by the MMPI-2-RF, and engagement in violence, within a sample of 228 incarcerated women. Results indicated that women serving time for a violent offense obtained higher mean scores on MMPI-2-RF scales related to underreporting, atypical thoughts/experiences, and paranoia. Women who obtained disciplinary reports for violence within the institution obtained higher mean scores on MMPI-2-RF scales related to behavior/externalizing dysfunction, overactivation, and aggression. Taken together, violence was most strongly associated with the MMPI-2-RF scales related to paranoia and atypical thoughts/experiences (e.g., THD, PSYC-r). This study provides new data on the viability of the MMPI-2-RF to provide critical insights into violent and aggression behavior in female inmates, an understudied population and demonstrate the instrument's efficacy in assessing characteristics associated with violent behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study was to examine the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008) scales in assessing Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fifth edition (DSM-5) Section II Personality Disorder (PD) symptoms. For this purpose, we first tested the cross-cultural factorial and criterion validity of MMPI-2-RF scales. We used a sample of 536 (327 women and 209 men) community individuals in Tehran, Iran. DSM-5 Section II PD criterion counts were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 –Screening Personality Questionnaire. Exploratory structural equation modelling analyses revealed that the models reported by Ben-Porath and Tellegen generally fitted the data well. Criterion validity of the MMPI-2-RF scales as well as MMPI-2-RF PDs spectra scales were analyzed with respect to their correlations with DSM-5 Section II PDs, indicating results generally consistent with expectations. Results based on Poisson or Negative binomial regression models indicated that a set of MMPI-2-RF scale hypotheses were supported, with several exceptions that are discussed in detail. These findings have implications for applicability of the MMPI-2-RF across Iranian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I discuss construction of a set of weighted indices for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) designed to provide direct guidance in three specific differential diagnostic problems. I created a calibration data set using a combined sample of mental health patients (n = 2,043). Using the MMPI-2-RF's Substantive Scales as a pool of potential predictors, I applied the lasso, a penalized regression technique, to derive three logistic regression equations differentiating three major diagnostic groups (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder) from one another. Then, I extracted empirically derived beta weights from these equations and used them to create composite differential diagnostic indices, which I scored in a separate holdout validation data set (n = 873). The differential diagnostic indices performed well in the validation data set (schizophrenia vs. bipolar area under the curve [AUC] =.76; schizophrenia vs. major depression AUC =.90; bipolar vs. major depression AUC =.75). Moreover, they substantially outperformed any single existing MMPI-2-RF scale in the same differential diagnostic tasks. In addition to discussing the development and initial validation of these indices, I present methods for deriving clinically referenced standard scores and diagnostic classification probabilities for obtained raw index scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine whether pre-season assessment using a validated assessment tool, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), could predict college student-athletes identified as experiencing in-season mental health (MH) problems. Design: A prospective study of athletes who completed a pre-season evaluation in August 2018. Setting and Participants: A total of 195 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 student-athletes from a large midwestern university in northeast Ohio. Independent Variable: The MMPI-2-RF, a 338-item self-report measure of constructs relevant to the assessment of psychopathology and personality. Main Outcome Measure: Mental health problems of student-athletes tracked throughout the competitive season (August 2018-May 2019) by a team of athletic department personnel who met weekly with a licensed clinical psychologist. Results: In pre-season assessment, 71.8% of athletes clinically elevated at least one MMPI-2-RF scale and underreporting was higher in student-athletes than normative controls. Pre-season levels of internalizing psychopathology, diffuse physical symptoms, and unusual thoughts predicted increased likelihood of experiencing MH problems during the competitive season. Conclusions: The current findings suggest that the MMPI-2-RF may be a promising tool for identifying student-athletes at risk for MH concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) instruments have a rich history of the inclusion of embedded strategies to identify invalidating response styles—such as non-responding, inconsistent responding, and noncredible underreporting or overreporting of symptoms—and to identify the impact of such response styles on substantive test score conclusions and extra-test considerations. This paper briefly reviews that history before focusing on the scales that detect overreported psychopathology, somatic complaints, and cognitive complaints on the most recent adult instruments, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) and MMPI-3. Specifically, we discuss the detection strategies used to develop MMPI-2-RF and MMPI-3 overreporting Validity Scales, evaluative contexts in which they are used, and studies of their validity. We also briefly discuss identified strengths and weaknesses and suggestions for the use of these scales in the assessment of overreporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the differentiation of borderline (BPD) and antisocial personality disorders (ASPD) in forensic settings, with particular emphasis on the utility of the MMPI-2-RF in differential diagnosis. This study examined these constructs across correctional and forensic psychiatric samples from the U.S. and the Netherlands using varying assessment/diagnosis modalities, including self-report, structured interview, and clinician-derived personality disorder (PD) diagnosis from both DSM-5 Section II and Section III perspectives. Our findings showed that internalizing psychopathology – and to a lesser extent interpersonal and thought dysfunction – differentiated BPD from ASPD; however, inconsistencies existed across samples. Higher levels of externalizing psychopathology were not found to differentiate ASPD across any of the samples or PD conceptualizations used in the current study. This suggests that diagnostic clarity may be particularly difficult in forensic settings and supports previous work that has shown problematic diagnostic overlap and a lack of differentiation between PD constructs. Nonetheless, as our current diagnostic system continues to rely on categorical determination of PDs, the current study suggests the MMPI-2-RF may enhance diagnostic differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we explore the effects of in-person versus remote administration and in-person versus remote proctoring on scores on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) in the context of police candidate preemployment evaluations. To this end, we compare data gathered from candidates who completed the test under standard, in-person conditions with data from candidates who completed the test remotely with the Q-global Remote On-Screen Assessment (ROSA) system, using either in-person or remote proctoring. We find that the standard group (n = 3,311), remote administration/in-person proctoring group (ROSA-IPP; n = 108), and remote administration/remote proctoring group (ROSA-RP; n = 90) all produce very similar distributions of scores, with group differences in means and standard deviations no greater than two T-score points per scale. Examination of the correlations between MMPI-2-RF externalizing scale scores and a set of relevant extra-test criteria for the ROSA-IPP and ROSA-RP groups reveals little difference between groups and suggests patterns of convergent and discriminant validity similar to those observed in studies of the MMPI-2-RF under standard administration conditions. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that the MMPI-2-RF's psychometric properties in police candidate preemployment evaluations are equivalent regardless of whether the test is administered in-person or remotely and whether proctoring is conducted in-person or remotely. Public Significance Statement: This study indicates that when the MMPI-2-RF is used to examine the psychological functioning of police candidates, it produces similar results regardless of whether it is administered remotely (i.e., over the internet) or in-person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological evaluations of clergy applicants to the Catholic Church are an important gatekeeping mechanism during the admission process. However, limited research exists on the validity of assessments for this evaluative purpose and none have examined the predictive utility of the MMPI-2-RF to determine if an applicant will be accepted to formation, or if they ultimately ordained. This study fills that gap in the literature by investigating the predictive validity of MMPI-2-RF scales in 147 male applicants evaluated as part of their application for seminary or diaconate formation programs in a mid-sized Catholic diocese in the United States. Group analyses (e.g., Kruskal–Wallis tests) with admission status as the independent variable and MMPI-2-RF scales as the dependent variables yielded significant differences, most notably, those participants not admitted had higher mean scores on F-r, Fp-r, EID, RC7, THD, RC8, RC1, MLS, NUC, and JCP than the other three groups. Relative risk ratios were estimated for all MMPI-2-RF scales, indicating that higher scores are generally associated with a lower likelihood of admission and, ultimately, ordination. Limitations and future directions of research are also discussed. Public Significance Statement: This study evaluates the predictive utility of the MMPI-2-RF for use in clergy evaluations and supports its use in this capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of underreporting in suicide risk assessment remains a significant concern in clinical practice. The aim of this research is to examine whether underreporting based on elevated Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) K-r and L-r scale scores may aid in identifying patients with suppressed scores on the Suicide/Death Ideation scale (SUI) and extra-test measures of suicide risk. We anticipated that, in voluntarily admitted psychiatric inpatients (N = 1,011) and individuals receiving outpatient services in a university-affiliated psychology clinic (N = 521), those indicated as underreporting would produce lower mean scores across SUI and extra-test measures of suicide risk, and that the magnitudes of the associations between SUI and extra-test scores would be strongest for those underreporting. A series of t tests and correlational analyses were conducted in both samples. Although those classified as underreporting consistently produced lower mean scores for SUI and extra-test measures of suicide risk, the magnitudes of the associations were consistently significant and stronger only in outpatients without K-r or L-r scale elevations. Clinical implications for this research include examining K-r elevations when assessing suicide risk and incorporating a therapeutic assessment approach to suicide risk assessment. Public Significance Statement: These results highlight the need for accurate identification of individuals at risk of suicide while considering the context in which suicide risk assessment takes place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stanley et al. (Psychological Assessment, 2018, 20, 1249) examined Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form: Manual for administration, scoring, and interpretation, 2008/2011, University of Minnesota Press) profile configurations to predict which individuals engage in suicidal behavior using an outpatient psychiatric sample. Their results revealed that an interaction of overarousal [Hypomanic Activation (RC9) or Activation (ACT)] and shutdown [Demoralization (RCd)] indicators predicted increased history of suicide attempts. The purpose of the present study was to replicate and extend these results to a psychiatric inpatient sample in order to determine their generalizability to a clinically severe, at-risk population. The present study examined 581 valid MMPI-2-RF protocols of adult psychiatric inpatients who endorsed any level of suicide ideation on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS; Posner et al., The American Journal of Psychiatry, 2011, 168, 1266) in the 2 weeks prior to admission. Results revealed that in four of the six models tested, shutdown (Low Positive Emotions [RC2], Helplessness/Hopelessness [HLP]) but not overactivation (RC9, ACT) indicators provided an additional prediction of suicide attempt history beyond Suicidal/Death Ideation (SUI) and the covariates. The two models containing RCd did not provide additional predictive value above Suicidal/Death Ideation (SUI) with main effects or interaction terms. Overall, our results do not replicate those of Stanley et al. (Psychological Assessment, 2018, 20, 1249). Furthermore, while SUI was the best predictor of a history of suicide attempts, results indicate the main effects of RC2 and HLP were negative predictors of prior suicide attempts. Limitations of the study and clinical implications of the results are discussed. Public Significance Statement: This study attempted to replicate and extend the results of Stanley et al. (Psychological Assessment, 2018, 20, 1249) to a psychiatric inpatient sample. Although the present study did not replicate those of the outpatients in the Stanley et al. (Psychological Assessment, 2018, 20, 1249) study, results showed that in most models, low scores on shutdown (social isolation and self-alienation) indicators provided an additional prediction of suicide attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychopathology has been associated with patient reports of poor outcome and an algorithm has been useful in predicting short-term outcomes. The objective of this study is to investigate whether a pre-surgical psychological algorithm could predict 1-year spine surgery outcome reports, including pain, functional disability, and emotional functioning. A total of 1,099 patients consented to participate. All patients underwent spine surgery (e.g., spinal fusion, discectomy, etc.). Pre-operatively, patients completed self-report measures prior to surgery. An algorithm predicting patient prognosis based on data from the pre-surgical psychological evaluation was filled out by the provider for each patient prior to surgery. Post-operatively, patients completed self-report measures at 3- and 12-months after surgery. Longitudinal latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was used to derive patient outcome groups. These outcome groups were then compared to pre-surgical predictions made. LCGA analyses derived three groups of patients from the reported outcome data (entropy =.84): excellent outcomes, good outcomes, and poor outcomes. The excellent and good groups demonstrated improvements over time, but the poor outcome groups, on some measures, reported worsening of pain, functional disability, and emotional functioning over time. The pre-surgical algorithm yielded good concordance with the statistically derived outcome groups (Kendall's W =.81). Using a pre-surgical psychological evaluation algorithm for predicting long-term spine surgery outcomes can identify patients who are unlikely to report good outcomes, and point to areas for psychological intervention that can either improve surgery results or to be utilized as alternatives to elective spine surgery. Public Significance Statement: This study demonstrates how a user-friendly algorithm that combines multi-method assessment data to forecast spine surgery results can predict excellent, good, and poor outcomes 1-year after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current study examined the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory‐2‐Restructured Form (MMPI‐2‐RF) in assessing ICD‐11 personality psychopathology trait domain qualifiers. Method: Using a community sample (N = 217) weighted for externalizing dysfunction, this study evaluated the convergence between ICD‐11 trait domains as measured by the personality inventory for DSM‐5 (PID‐5) with hypothesized MMPI‐2‐RF scales. Particular emphasis was placed on evaluating the convergence between the ICD‐11 trait domain qualifiers and the MMPI‐2‐RF personality psychopathology‐5 (PSY‐5) scales, as the latter are meant to represent broadband domains of personality pathology. Results: Correlation and regression analyses demonstrated expected associations between ICD‐11 domains and conceptually expected MMPI‐2‐RF scales, with some minor exceptions. Notably, the Anankastia domain showed associations with scales assessing negative affect, but did not show expected negative associations with scales related to disinhibition. Conclusions: The findings generally supported the use of the MMPI‐2‐RF in assessing individual expressions of personality dysfunction from the ICD‐11 trait domain qualifier perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

The current study examined the clinical utility of the Restructured Form of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 (MMPI-2-RF) in a residential treatment program for homeless individuals. MMPI-2-RF scale scores from 146 participants with valid profiles were correlated with variables obtained at intake and during treatment. The sample was then followed 12 months postdischarge to test preregistered hypotheses regarding MMPI-2-RF predictors of hospital readmissions. The results indicated that a variety of MMPI-2-RF scale scores were correlated with historical and diagnostic variables at intake and with measures of treatment outcome, including behavioral problems and successful outcome. A broad range of MMPI-2-RF scale scores were related to readmissions postdischarge and many of these relationships remained significant when tested in Poisson regression models containing other predictors. However, the postdischarge findings were generally inconsistent with our predictions and were of small effect size. The clinical implications of MMPI-2-RF results for residential treatment programs 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]

Psychology injury and law is a specialized forensic psychology field that concerns reaching legal thresholds for actionable negligent or related injuries having a psychological component, such as for posttraumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, and mild traumatic brain injury. The presenting psychological injuries have to be related causally to the event at issue, and if pre-existing injuries, vulnerabilities, or psychopathologies are involved at baseline, they have to be exacerbated by the event at issue, or added to in unique ways such that the psychological effects of the event at issue go beyond the de minimis range. The articles in this special issue deal with the legal aspects of cases of psychological injury, including in legal steps and procedures to follow and the causal question of whether an index event is responsible for claimed injuries. They deal with the major psychological injuries, and others such as somatic symptom disorder and factitious disorder. They address best practices in assessment such that testimony and reports proffered to court are probative, i.e., helping the trier of fact to arrive at judicious decisions. The articles in the special issue review the reliable and valid tests in the field, including those that examine negative response bias, negative impression management, symptom exaggeration, feigning, and possible malingering. The latter should be ruled in only through the most compelling evidence in the whole file of an examinee, including test results and inconsistencies. The court will engage in admissibility challenges when testimony, reports, opinions, conclusions, and recommendations do not meet the expected standards of being scientific, comprehensive, impartial, and having considered all the reliable data at hand. The critical topics in the field that cut across the articles in the special issue relate to (a) conceptual and definitional issues, (b) confounds and confusions, (c) assessment and testing, (d) feigning/malingering, and (e) medicolegal/legal/court implications. The articles in the special issue are reviewed in terms of these five themes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction of sexual violence recidivism is an important societal concern and has been the frequent subject of psychological research. Although research has supported the use of the MMPI-2-RF in violence risk assessment, there is a paucity of research related to sexual violence risk assessment. The present study evaluated the convergent validity of the MMPI-2-RF with measures used in sexual violence risk assessment evaluations (i.e., the Static 99, SVR-20, and PCL:SV) in a sample of German inmates in a psychological treatment setting. Analyses generally showed an expected pattern of results, with MMPI-2-RF externalizing scales having the strongest associations with measures of violence and sexual violence risk assessment. Indeed, although smaller associations were found with Static-99 scales, there were moderate to large associations between SVR-20 and PCL:SV scores and MMPI-2-RF externalizing scales. Taken together, these findings suggest that, although the MMPI-2-RF does not appear to be associated with specific static risk factors (e.g., previous victim qualities, type of sexual offenses), the externalizing scales on the MMPI-2-RF are useful in examining more dynamic factors (e.g., those assessed on the SVR-20) in conjunction with other dynamic and static risk tools (e.g., SVR-20, Static-99) in sexual violence risk evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]