Detecting feigned ADHD in college students using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF)

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the utility of the validity scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) for detecting feigned Attention-Deficit Hyperreactivity Disorder (ADHD), we utilized a simulation design. Method: We examined group differences across the Restructured Clinical (RC) and validity scales as well as the classification ability of the validity scales across three cut scores. Analyses were conducted across five simulation groups (N = 177) and a standard instruction group (N = 32). Results: Across most of the RC and validity scales, those feigning ADHD produced significantly higher scores than the standard instruction group, but generally no significant differences between the feigning groups were demonstrated. The most promising scales for detecting feigned ADHD were F-r, Fp-r, and Fs at cut scores in the 70 T to 80 T range, respectively. Conclusions: Results support the use of the MMPI-2-RF in ADHD evaluations with scores on F-r, Fs, and Fp-r being particularly useful in detecting feigned ADHD in college students. However, there was no evidence to support the feigning of distinct ADHD symptoms presentations.

Keywords:

• MMPI-2-RF
• overreporting
• ADHD
• feigning

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Robinson and Rogers (2017) also created a new scale for the MMPI-2-RF to detect over-reported ADHD, which they named the Ds-ADHD scale. This experimental scale was not examined in the current study.

2 While FBS-r was investigated by Robinson and Roger (2017), no mean scores differences were observed between the ADHD simulation group and ADHD clinical comparison group, therefore classification accuracy statistics and cut scores were not generated.

3 Prior to data collection, we hypothesized that those feigning ADHD would respond inattentively/carelessly on the MMPI-2-RF and therefore elevate VRIN-r scale scores. However, it has come to our attention that, to our knowledge, there is no previous research to inform this hypothesis (Fuermaier et al., 2016).

4 The instructions used can be obtained from the first author.

5 Data used in this study was collected as apart of a larger study. The WMT was not reported or used in the present study due to lack of standardized administration.

Additional information

Funding

Funding and support for this project was provided by the Hollis Award Committee at Ball State University, University of Minnesota Press, and Green’s Publishing. Copies of the study materials can be obtained from the first author.