A New Index for the MMPI‐2 Test for Detecting Dissimulation in Forensic Evaluations: A Pilot Study |
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Authors: | Vito Martino MD Ignazio Grattagliano PsyD Andrea Bosco PhD Ylenia Massaro PsyD Andrea Lisi PhD Filippo Campobasso PsyD Maria Alessia Marchitelli MA Roberto Catanesi MD |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesaze, Bari, Italy;2. Department of Educational Science Psychology and Communication, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesaze, Bari, Italy |
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Abstract: | This pilot study is the starting point of a potentially broad research project aimed at identifying new strategies for assessing malingering during forensic evaluations. The forensic group was comprised of 67 males who were seeking some sort of certification (e.g., adoption, child custody, driver's license, issuance of gun permits, etc.); the nonforensic group was comprised of 62 healthy male volunteers. Each participant was administered the MMPI‐2. Statistical analyses were conducted on obtained scores of 48 MMPI‐2 scales. In the first step, parametric statistics were adopted to identify the best combination of MMPI‐2 scales that differentiated the two groups of participants. In the second step, frequency‐based, nonparametric methods were used for diagnostic purposes. Results: A model that utilized the best three predictors (“7‐Pt”, “L,” and “1‐Hs”) was developed and used to calculate the Forensic Evaluation Dissimulation Index (FEDI), which features satisfactory diagnostic accuracy (0.9), sensitivity (0.82), specificity (0.81), and likelihood ratio indices (LR+ = 4.32; LR? = 0.22). |
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Keywords: | forensic science dissimulation mental disorder forensic evaluation psychodiagnostic instruments MMPI‐2 |
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