An Adaptation of the MMPI-2 Meyers Index for the MMPI-2-RF

Abstract

Using an overall sample of 278 individuals who had taken the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Second Edition (MMPI-2) and who had clear diagnostic information available in their medical records, the Meyers Index (MI) for the MMPI-2 (Meyers, Millis, & Volkert, 2002) was calculated for each individual, and a new version of the MI created for the MMPI-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) was calculated. The MI is a method of combining multiple MMPI-2 validity scales into a single weighted index to assess exaggerated self-report on the MMPI-2. The new index is intended to provide the same type of global assessment of validity but for the MMPI-2-RF (MI-r). The MI and the MI-r were compared at both individual and group levels and were found to correlate well (r = .87). Diagnostic groups of litigants and nonlitigants of traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, and posttraumatic stress disorder were also examined; and the performance of the MI and the MI-r were similar. Similarly, the pass and fail agreement rate for the two scales was 93%. The results indicate that the MI and MI-r perform very similarly and are good methods of assessing overall validity of MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF test performance.

Key words:

• index
• malingering
• MMPI-2-RF
• Symptom Validity Test

Notes

F-K = F-K raw score; FT = F scale T score; FBS = Fake Bad Scale raw score; F(p) = Infrequency-Pathology Scale T score; Ds-r = Dissimulation Scale-Revised T score; ES = Ego-Strength T score; O–S = Obvious–Subtle; MI = Meyers Index for the MMPI-2.

F-r = Infrequent Responses; Fp-r = Infrequent-Psychopathology Responses; Fs = Infrequent Somatic Responses; FBS-r = Fake Bad Scale, Symptom Validity; RBS = Response Bias Scale.

MI = Meyers Index for the MMPI-2; MI-r = Meyers Index for the MMPI-2-RF. *t test.

**F statistic.

TBI = traumatic brain injury; PTSD = posttraumatic stress disorder; MI = Meyers Index for the MMPI-2; MI-r = Meyers Index for the MMPI-2-RF.