Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2008

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

PhD

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

William Fremouw

Abstract

Using archival data, "gold standard" assessment measures were used to determine group placement of psychiatric inpatients. One of two multi-scale measures of personality, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory II (MMPI-2) or the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), were administered, as well as one of two interview measures designed specifically to assess for malingering, the Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS) and/or the Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test (M-FAST). Based on either the MMPI-2 or the PAI and the SIRS, subjects were placed into one of three groups: non-malingering inpatients, probable malingerers, and indeterminate malingerers. One purpose of identifying these groups was to validate the Assessment of Depression Inventory (ADI) Feigning scale (Fg) with a known group of malingering inpatients who met dual criteria standards. Using the two most extreme groups, the non-malingering inpatients and the probable malingerers, the Fg scale cut score of 14 was highly effective in differentiating honest presentations from those likely feigned, with an 87.7% hit rate in correct identification of group membership. In addition, a chart review was conducted to determine potential demographic, clinical, and criminal profile differences between these two extreme groups. Significant differences included a greater presence of nonpsychotic minor diagnoses and number of previous hospitalizations for the probable malingering group. Trends toward differences were noted for higher use of psychotropic medications and more previous contact with mental health services for the probable malingering group.

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