MMPI-2 validity, clinical and content scales, and the Fake Bad Scale for personal injury litigants claiming idiopathic environmental intolerance

J Psychosom Res. 2007 Jan;62(1):61-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2006.01.013.

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI) is a descriptor for nonspecific complaints that are attributed to environmental exposure.

Methods: The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2) was administered to 50 female and 20 male personal injury litigants alleging IEI.

Results: The validity scales indicated no overreporting of psychopathology. Half of the cases had elevated scores on validity scales suggesting defensiveness, and a large number had elevations on Fake Bad Scale (FBS) suggesting overreporting of unauthenticated symptoms. The average T-score profile for females was defined by the two-point code type 3-1 (Hysteria-Hypochondriasis), and the average T-score profile for males was defined by the three-point code type 3-1-2 (Hysteria, Hypochondriasis-Depression). On the content scales, Health Concerns (HEA) scale was significantly elevated.

Conclusion: Idiopathic environmental intolerance litigants (a) are more defensive about expressing psychopathology, (b) express distress through somatization, (c) use a self-serving misrepresentation of exaggerated health concerns, and (d) may exaggerate unauthenticated symptoms suggesting malingering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Compensation and Redress / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Defense Mechanisms
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / psychology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypochondriasis / diagnosis
  • Hypochondriasis / psychology
  • Hysteria / diagnosis
  • Hysteria / psychology
  • MMPI / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Malingering / diagnosis*
  • Malingering / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Chemical Sensitivity / diagnosis*
  • Multiple Chemical Sensitivity / psychology
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sick Role
  • Somatoform Disorders / diagnosis
  • Somatoform Disorders / psychology