The Effect of Somatoform Disorder and Paranoid Psychotic Role-Related Dissimulations as a Response Set on the MMPI-2

Two hundred thirty-seven undergraduate students were assigned to three instructional groups: somatoform disorder, paranoid psychotic, and general "fake-bad," and a standard test-retest control group in order to investigate the impact of specifically defined, role-related dissimulations on responding to the MMPI-2. It was found that each instructional group differed from the control group on a majority of MMPI-2 clinical and validity scales. Although the group that simulated the somatoform disorder differed from the simulated paranoid psychotic and general fake-bad groups, the simulated paranoid psychotic and general fake-bad groups did not differ from each other. An examination of various cutting scores suggests that validity indices used with the MMPI (i.e., F, F-K) are also useful with the MMPI-2. Overall, the F scale seems to be the most effective validity index. Implications for future MMPI-2 and malingering research are discussed.