Low-end specificity of four depression measures: findings and suggestions for the research use of depression tests

J Pers Assess. 1996 Oct;67(2):272-84. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa6702_4.

Abstract

Past research has found that very low scorers on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) tend to respond in a "fake-good" manner on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) validity scales. This findings was interpreted as evidence of poor "low-end specificity." This study replicated and extended this work by evaluating the low-end specificity of four popular depression measures. The evidence of problems with low-end specificity was strong for the BDI and marginal for the Profile of Mood States depression subscale. Interestingly, MMPI scores in the "normal" range were associated with "fake-good" responding, whereas very low and high scores were not. There was no evidence of an association between fake-good responding and scores on Exner's Depression Index for the Rorschach. Implications of these findings and guidelines for dealing with problems with low-end specificity in research are discussed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • MMPI
  • Male
  • Mood Disorders / diagnosis
  • Psychological Tests*
  • Research*