SOMATIC MALINGERING ON THE MMPI AND MMPI-2 IN PERSONAL-INJURY LITIGANTS

Elevations on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI/MMPI-2 ) scales 1 (Hs) and 3 (Hy) frequently occur in neuropsychological sett ings, due to symptoms of pain, paresthesias, and malaise. The presence of only one F scale item on Hs and Hy complicates detection of exagge rated somatic complaints. Of 12 medically and neurologically normal li tigants claiming brain damage, with objective evidence of malingering, only 3 had elevated F scales, despite elevations on Hs and Hy exceedi ng those reported for chronic pain samples and for noninjured dissimul ators in malingering research. By contrast, 11 of 12 had elevations on the Lees-Haley Fake Bad Scale (FBS). Somatic malingering should be co nsidered when elevations on Ha and Hy exceed T80, and FBS is significa ntly elevated.