The training of malingering assessment and detection strategies in clinical psychology programs: A survey of American Psychological Association graduate student affiliates

Due to the overarching importance of accurately detecting the malingering client, this study attempted to understand how clinical psychology students are trained to detect malingering. Therefore, the study surveyed 500 Psy.D. and 500 Ph.D. graduate student affiliates from the American Psychological Association. Participants were expected to graduate in 2003 or 2004. A total of 461 participants were included in the results from this study. Explanations regarding the training methods of detecting the malingerer within clinical psychology programs are discussed. Participants that were enrolled in programs offering specific levels of training in forensic psychology were compared against data of participants who are not in similar programs. Results suggested that students who were enrolled in forensic psychology programs learned more common malingering detection strategies than did students who were not in forensic psychology programs. However, the vast majority of the sample was not educated in detection strategies much beyond the MMPI-2 and other objective personality measures that incorporate validity/malingering scales. Other analyses compared training based on the participants' year of expected graduation (2003 or 2004), the degree sought (Ph.D. or Psy.D.), the type of institution (university or independent), and the model of clinical psychology training used by their institution (scientist-practitioner or practitioner). Results also suggested "intellectual competence" was present in the forensic psychology group, but "emotional competence" in malingering detection was not properly assessed by the survey. Limitations of the study, suggestions for future research, and recommendations are also discussed.