Interpreting the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) Validity Scales: Leveraging Population-Level Veteran Affairs (VA) Data From 2008 to 2024.
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| Title: | Interpreting the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) Validity Scales: Leveraging Population-Level Veteran Affairs (VA) Data From 2008 to 2024. |
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| Authors: | Shura, Robert D.1,2,3 (AUTHOR) Robert.Shura2@va.gov, Ingram, Paul B.4 (AUTHOR), Schroeder, Ryan W.5 (AUTHOR), Armistead-Jehle, Patrick6 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Psychological Assessment. Dec2025, Vol. 37 Issue 12, p671-684. 14p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Data analysis, *Personality assessment, *Research methodology evaluation, *Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, *Research methodology, *Comparative studies, *Cognition, Psychiatric diagnosis, Cross-sectional method, Allied mental health personnel, Research funding, Questionnaires, Logistic regression analysis, Descriptive statistics, Health facility translating services, Psychology of veterans, Statistics, Electronic health records, Data analysis software, Standards |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Company/Entity: | United States. Dept. of Veterans Affairs |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to examine base rates of invalidity and intercorrelations of validity scales on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) in a population of U.S. veterans. All PAIs administered in the Veteran Affairs (N = 36,830) using mental health assistant through 03/2024 were pulled from the Veteran Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse. Basic demographic data and stop codes (codes identifying the type of clinic the measure was administered in) were also pulled. Base rates of invalidity on all known validity scales (N = 18) were calculated in general, cumulatively, and by stop code. Spearman's correlations were run to compare all validity scales to one another. Broadly, base rates were highest but variable for overreport scales (10.1%–29.9%), with underreport (0.4%–7.5%) and noncontent response (3.4%–4.5%) rates far lower. Large correlations were demonstrated among the various overreport scales, with the exception of Rogers Discriminant Function. Underreport scales were also highly correlated with each other, with the exception of Cashel's Discriminant Function. Elevations on noncontent response scales were uncommon across the sample. Underreport scales were also rare, save in the context of presurgical evaluations. Overreporting was highest in the disability clinics, lower across clinical assessment clinics, and lowest in the presurgical assessment clinic. Invalidity base rate patterns from this study were generally consistent with a prior study using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form. Results highlight the importance of symptom validity assessment with veterans, most notable for overreporting in disability claims and underreporting in presurgical evaluations. Public Significance Statement: This study examines veterans' endorsement patterns on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) validity scales, utilizing every PAI administered within the Veteran Administration health care system and stored within the Corporate Data Warehouse (N = 36,830). Results indicate that veterans commonly score beyond established cutoffs on validity scales, especially those assessing exaggeration or overendorsement of symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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