Abstract
This study examined the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) validity scales for detecting feigning and exaggeration of attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD) among college students. Under a simulation study design, participants with and without ADHD were assigned to perform honestly or to feign or exaggerate deficits related to ADHD while completing self-report symptom inventories. Participants instructed to feign produced symptom profiles similar to honest clinical profiles and more severe than honest nonclinical profiles. Participants with ADHD instructed to exaggerate produced less severe profiles than those instructed to feign and more severe profiles than clinical controls. MMPI-2-RF scale Fp-r showed potential for use in malingered ADHD detection at a revised cut score, which was significantly lower than the cut score suggested in the test manual; use of the revised cut score will require further validation. Scales F-r, Fs, and FBS-r did not classify well, but should be assessed in future studies of malingered ADHD. Detection of exaggeration was consistently poorer than detection of feigning.
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This research was supported in part by a dissertation research grant from the American Psychological Association.
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This research was based on data also used in a doctoral dissertation by Lindsey J. Jasinski.
Appendices
Appendix A: Instructions for FGN group
Congratulations! You have been selected for a chance to win $50 cash!
Today you will complete a series of psychological tests much like a clinician would use to test you for attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD). Normally, you would be asked to try your best on these tests. That is not what we want you to do today. Instead, we want you to perform on the tests exactly how you think someone with ADHD would perform. That is, you should try to take the tests in such a way that you look like you have ADHD. The tests have scales designed to detect people who are feigning, so be careful not to be too obvious. If you can take the tests in such a way that you are classified as having ADHD without the examiner knowing you are faking, you will receive $50 cash at the end of testing. It will help if you imagine the following scenario:
You have a friend on campus who has just been diagnosed with ADHD. She is prescribed a stimulant drug (like Ritalin or Adderall) that makes her concentrate better and stay awake more easily. Studying becomes much easier for her and takes less time, while her grades have improved. On top of that, the University gives her extra time to complete exams and other assignments because she has ADHD. Because schoolwork is easier, she is able to socialize more often. She tells you that all she had to do was take a few tests to receive her diagnosis. You feel you could really use some extra time on exams and assignments, and it would be great to have some medication to help you study faster, so you decide you will try to get a diagnosis, too. You search the internet for information on ADHD, and you make an appointment for testing.
The next few pages contain the information you would find in an internet search for ADHD.
[After preparation]You will now be introduced to the person who will complete testing with you.
Please take the following tests as if you are trying to convince someone that you have ADHD. You should respond to the test items in a way that makes clear that you have ADHD. The examiner who tests you will not know your role, so please do not give it away!
Remember, if you are successful at deceiving the tests without being detected by the examiner as faking, you will win $50!
If you have any questions, please take time to ask me right now.
Appendix B: Instructions for EXAG group
Congratulations! You have been selected for a chance to win $50 cash!
Today you will complete a series of psychological tests much like a clinician would use to test you for attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD). Normally, you would be asked to try your best on these tests. That is not what we want you to do today. Instead, we want you try to take the tests in such a way as to make absolutely sure that you look like you have ADHD. The tests have scales designed to detect people who are feigning, so be careful not to be too obvious. If you can take the tests in such a way that you are classified as having ADHD without the examiner knowing you are faking, you will receive $50 cash at the end of testing. Remember, you must look like you have ADHD without being so obvious that the examiner will know! It may help if you imagine the following scenario:
You have a friend on campus who has just been diagnosed with ADHD. The University gives her extra time to complete exams and other assignments because she has ADHD. She tells you that all she had to do was take a few tests to receive her accommodations. You have also been diagnosed with ADHD, and you feel you could really use some extra time on exams and assignments. Even though you already have a diagnosis, you have to take the tests through the University in order to qualify for accommodations, so you make an appointment for testing. You are concerned that the tests might wrongly say you don’t have ADHD, so you want to be extra convincing during testing. You want to be certain that you will receive accommodations, so you search the internet for information on ADHD so you can look as typical as possible when you take the tests.
[After preparation]You will now be introduced to the person who will complete testing with you.
Please take the following tests as if you are trying to convince someone who might not trust your diagnosis that you have ADHD. You should respond to the test items in a way that makes clear that you do. The examiner who tests you will not know your role, so please do not give it away!
Remember, if you are successful at convincing the tests without being detected as faking, you will win $50!
If you have any questions, please take time to ask me right now.
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Harp, J.P., Jasinski, L.J., Shandera-Ochsner, A.L. et al. Detection of Malingered ADHD Using the MMPI-2-RF. Psychol. Inj. and Law 4, 32–43 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12207-011-9100-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12207-011-9100-9