I have a problem that is causing more than a bit of anxiety and stress. I have taken psychiatric exams a few times and they always come back that I am lying. In fact, I score so dishonest on these tests that they don't even score my results and simply invalidate the tests. That wasn't such a big problem at one point in my life, but now that I'm trying to get disability, those results are being passed on to Social Security disability and they are being told that I'm a liar, which doesn't much help my case, as evidenced by the fact that I've been fighting for disability for five years now.

My therapist believes that I am answering honestly. Her explanation is that I am simply an extreme outlier and unless and until I get a psychologist to actually talk to me, rather than simply score a test, they're never going to 'see' me. So, here's what happened recently. I got a referral to a psychologist and I asked for a structured interview rather than rely on the psychological metrics. I was up front and explained my reasons for requesting it. He tried to assure me that they have systems built in to catch liars and not to worry about it. So I decided to be completely candid, because not being completely candid hasn't worked, and said this:

“Okay, I understand your position, but please consider this: Let's take the MMPI-2 because, with 567 questions, four validity indices, ten major scales and over 120 subscales, it is probably the most complicated of the potential metrics I might be given. The first validity index is the L-test consisting of questions numbers 16, 29, 41, 51, 77, 93, 102, 107, 123, 139, 153, 183, 203, 232, and 260. I'm allowed to mark six false, or 'in the scored direction' before you report that I am 'demonstrating an unsophisticated attempt to portray myself in a positive light' and am 'unwilling to admit to even minor shortcomings'. I mark ten in the scored direction, giving me a T score of over 80, thereby invalidating my test by any measure.”

He was surprised to say the least. I explained that I would not lie on the test and since telling the truth would result in an invalid result, there was really no sense taking the test. I probably went to far at this point but I was feeling rather desperate, and suggested that I could do any test he wanted me to do and make it say anything I wanted and he would believe it – except the truth. He took me up on my challenge and gave me a copy of the MMPI-2 and told me to answer as a 27 yo female paranoid schizophrenic. I should probably mention that I'm a 53 yo man with no schizophrenic tendencies. So I did. It took me forty-five minutes, he scored it and lo and behold...it came back valid and with paranoid schizophrenia. Worse, I didn't open the booklet to read the questions – I know it by heart. I wasn't trying to show off, I was trying to show my fluency – to convince him that if I was willing to lie, I could get disability tomorrow. I was trying to get him to believe me – that's all. He now refuses to test me at all – structured interview or not. In fact, he got quite angry.

I could use a diagnosis. They arrive at these through testing. I really don't know what to do. Any suggestions?