1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on MMPI-3 in Malingering Determinations is presented by Martin Sellbom, PhD. 

This intermediate-level program discusses the role of the recently released 335-item MMPI-3 in the assessment of malingering. This program assumes background and basic interpretation knowledge of both the MMPI-3 and forensic assessment. The majority of the time is devoted to discussing the MMPI-3 Validity scales used for the assessment of overreporting of psychopathology and somatic/cognitive complaints and how these scales can be used as evidence for a malingering determination. Research supporting the scales’ use for this purpose is discussed. The program includes case illustrations.  

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the psychometric findings available to guide MMPI-3 interpretation of validity scales assessing overrreporting
  • 2 Describe various considerations for using the MMPI-3 in malingering determinations
  • 3 Describe how to use the interpret the MMPI-3 overreporting validity scales in the context of evaluating for malingering

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who utilize the MMPI-3 in forensic assessment, with a particular focus on evaluating malingering. It is tailored for practitioners specializing in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, psychiatry, or neuropsychology, as well as those with expertise in psychological testing, assessment of psychopathology, and forensic evaluation.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Forensic psychologists
    • Clinical psychologists
    • Psychiatrists
    • Neuropsychologists
    • Mental health professionals involved in forensic assessment
    • Allied professionals working in legal, correctional, or clinical contexts

  • Experience Level

    This intermediate-level training is designed for mental health professionals with foundational knowledge of the MMPI-3 and forensic assessment.

    • Beginner: Participants are familiar with basic psychological assessment concepts but have limited experience with the MMPI-3 or its application in forensic or malingering contexts.

    • Intermediate: Participants have prior experience administering and interpreting the MMPI-3, understand its validity scales, and are seeking to deepen their knowledge of its use in malingering determinations.

    • Advanced: Participants are highly experienced with forensic assessment and the MMPI-3, regularly conduct malingering evaluations, and are interested in advanced research findings and nuanced case applications.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals practice in high-stakes, legally oriented evaluation environments that demand standardized testing, rigorous documentation, and testimony-ready reporting. Work involves administering and interpreting MMPI-3 validity scales, integrating collateral data, and adhering to ethical and evidentiary standards within multidisciplinary systems.


    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • Court clinics and pretrial/competency evaluation services
    • Correctional facilities and probation/parole evaluation units
    • Forensic inpatient units and secure psychiatric hospitals
    • Outpatient forensic assessment programs in health systems
    • Private forensic practices and independent medical evaluations (IME)
    • Neuropsychology services for civil litigation (e.g., TBI, pain, somatic complaints)
    • VA/DoD and public safety/fitness-for-duty evaluations
    • Insurance, disability, and workers’ compensation assessments

Presented By

Martin Sellbom, PhD Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University

Martin Sellbom is a Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2007 from Kent State University (USA). His research focuses on personality disorders, contemporary psychopathology models, and personality assessment with the MMPI instruments. Professor Sellbom's work has been featured in over 300 publications that includes four books, including the forthcoming (co-authored with Dustin Wygant) Forensic Mental Health Assessments using the MMPI-3. He has won several awards, including the American Psychological Foundation’s Theodore Millon mid-career award for advancing personality science, American Psychology-Law Society’s Saleem Shah Award and Society for Personality Assessment’s Samuel and Anne Beck Award for early career achievement. Professor Sellbom serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Personality Assessment. For his clinical practice, he specializes in forensic psychological evaluations.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Martin Sellbom, PhD

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.