MMPI profiles of malingerers diagnosed in pretrial forensic evaluations.

The MMPI has several indices associated with exaggeration of symptomatology, but they have seldom been researched with actual malingering subjects. Based upon interview behavior during pretrial forensic evaluations, samples of malingering (n = 18), psychotic (n = 17), and nonpsychotic (n = 36) criminal defendants were assembled for the present study. Both the malingerers and the psychotics either were untestable or produced incomplete or random MMPIs in about 50% of the cases. Comparisons of remaining profiles revealed significant differences between malingerers and other groups on several MMPI scales and F-K index. Discriminant analysis accurately classified malingerers and psychotics on the basis of MMPI variables. The MMPI may have considerable utility to detect malingering when subjects cooperate with testing.