Psychological profiles distinguishing litigating and nonlitigating pain patients: subtle, and not so subtle

J Pers Assess. 1994 Apr;62(2):299-313. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa6202_10.

Abstract

Chronic pain patients in the midst of litigation over settlement for their injuries were examined as a naturally occurring group where one might expect various distortions or differences in test findings on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Revised (MMPI-2). Similar groups of 43 chronic pain patients in litigation and 45 not in litigation were examined on 10 key MMPI-2 variables selected a priori. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed a significant difference between groups (p = .036). Litigators were most distinct in endorsing more obvious and fewer subtle symptoms. A conversion profile was also more salient for litigators once the obvious versus subtle differences were taken into account. Implications for use of the MMPI-2 and for clinical work with litigious patients are examined.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attitude to Health
  • Chronic Disease
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Eligibility Determination / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liability, Legal
  • MMPI / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Malingering / diagnosis*
  • Malingering / psychology
  • Malpractice / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / psychology*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results