Abstract
Research generally supports the use of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey 1991) to detect feigned PTSD, although this support has been somewhat mixed. There is also evidence that coaching individuals
on the presence of PAI validity indicators may not affect their ability to avoid detection as feigners (Bagby et al. in Journal
of Personality Assessment 78:69–86, 2002), although this question has not been specifically addressed with regard to PTSD. Additionally, a new PAI validity indicator,
the Negative Distortion Scale (NDS), was developed that may have utility in detecting feigned PTSD, but this has not been
tested. The purpose of this study was to further test the operating characteristics of the PAI validity indicators to detect
feigned PTSD among naïve and coached respondents and to examine the newly developed NDS for this purpose. Individuals with
genuine PTSD were compared to individuals instructed to feign PTSD on PAI validity indicators. Results suggest that: (a) coaching
had minimal influence on the ability of the PAI to detect feigned PTSD, (b) the PAI validity indicators all significantly
differentiated genuine from feigned PTSD, and (c) the NIM and NDS indicators were particularly effective for detecting feigned
PTSD.
on the presence of PAI validity indicators may not affect their ability to avoid detection as feigners (Bagby et al. in Journal
of Personality Assessment 78:69–86, 2002), although this question has not been specifically addressed with regard to PTSD. Additionally, a new PAI validity indicator,
the Negative Distortion Scale (NDS), was developed that may have utility in detecting feigned PTSD, but this has not been
tested. The purpose of this study was to further test the operating characteristics of the PAI validity indicators to detect
feigned PTSD among naïve and coached respondents and to examine the newly developed NDS for this purpose. Individuals with
genuine PTSD were compared to individuals instructed to feign PTSD on PAI validity indicators. Results suggest that: (a) coaching
had minimal influence on the ability of the PAI to detect feigned PTSD, (b) the PAI validity indicators all significantly
differentiated genuine from feigned PTSD, and (c) the NIM and NDS indicators were particularly effective for detecting feigned
PTSD.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s12207-011-9111-6
- Authors
- Katherine M. Thomas, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Christopher J. Hopwood, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Mathew J. Orlando, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Frank W. Weathers, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
- Meghan E. McDevitt-Murphy, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
- Journal Psychological Injury and Law
- Online ISSN 1938-9728
- Print ISSN 1938-971X