Patterns of elevated PAI validity indices across assessment contexts and presenting psychopathology: Implications for assessment

Objective: To determine whether elevations of validity indices on the Personality Assessment Inventory (Morey, 1991) vary across assessment contexts and types of clinical presentation. Method:A review of 400 cases presenting across different forensic contexts (worker’s compensation claims,victims of crime compensation claims, personal injury compensation claims; and pre-sentence) where the PAI was administered as part of a psycho-legal evaluation. Discriminant function analysis was employed. Results & Conclusions:Base rates for elevation of validity indices on the PAI may vary across assessment context and reported psychopathology. Implications for assessment using the PAI are discussed.