Utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 in differentiating genuine from feigned dissociative identity disorder.

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to determine the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) in accurately distinguishing genuine dissociative identity disorder (DID) patients from coached and uncoached DID simulators.

METHOD: DID patients (n = 34) who were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-Dissociative Disorders were recruited from inpatient and outpatient settings. Coached (n = 25) and uncoached (n = 64) simulator groups were recruited from a Mid-Atlantic university. All participants completed the MMPI-2.

RESULTS

MMPI-2 validity scales reliably distinguished simulators from DID patients with high sensitivity (0.95) and specificity (0.97). The scales showing greatest promise making the distinction were F minus K index, back infrequency scale, and superlative self-presentation. Simulators and genuine DID patients also differed in their pattern of symptoms. All results were calculated with White female DID patients and simulators only.

CONCLUSIONS

Genuine DID patients can be differentiated from simulators. Simulators appear to overweight symptoms of paranoia and alienation relative to mood and somatic symptoms. Further research is needed to generalize these findings to male and non-White populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).