Empirical derivation of a new MMPI-2 scale for identifying probable malingering in personal injury litigants and disability claimants: The 15-item Malingered Mood Disorder Scale (MMDS)

George K. Henry, Robert L. Heilbronner, Wiley Mittenberg, Craig Enders, Darci M. Roberts

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new 15-item MMPI-2 subscale, the Malingered Mood Disorder Scale (MMDS), was empirically derived from the original 32-item Malingered Depression Scale (MDS) of Steffan, Clopton, and Morgan (2003). The MMDS was superior to the original MDS in identification of symptom exaggeration in personal injury litigants and disability claimants compared to non-litigating head-injured controls. Logistic regression revealed that a cut score of≥7 on the MMDS produced good specificity (93.4%) with an associated sensitivity of 54.8%. An MMDS score of≥8 was associated with 100% positive predictive power, i.e., no false positive errors. These results suggest that the MMDS may be useful in identifying personal injury litigants and disability claimants who exaggerate emotional disturbance on the MMPI-2.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)158-168
Number of pages11
JournalClinical Neuropsychologist
Volume22
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 28 2008

Keywords

  • Malingered mood disorder
  • Probable malingering
  • Symptom validity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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