Raising doubts about claims of malingering: implications of relationships between MCMI-II and MMPI-2 performances

Test results from 90 personal injury claimants were used to explore the relationship between personality disorders (Dependent, Histrionic, Compulsive, Schizoid, Schizotypal, Paranoid, Narcissistic, Borderline, Antisocial, Avoidant, and Passive-Aggressive) as assessed by the MCMI-II and response style measured by MMPI-2 validity scales (F, K, L, F-K, O-S, Es, and FBS). With the exception of the Dependent and Narcissistic scales, all personality disorder scales were found to have a significant relationship with validity indicators in the direction of faking bad. These results suggest that the presence of characterological factors (i.e., a personality disorder), rather than malingering, contributes to exaggerated results in a forensic setting. Implications for future research are addressed.