Current Research

Culturally Safe Forensic Mental Health Services in Manitoba

Our newest community-based project is co-led with Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), Manitoba Inuit Association (MIA), Shared Health, and other Indigenous and community partners, including people with lived experience in forensic mental health, to explore what culturally safe forensic mental health services look like for First Nations and Métis people in Manitoba. Guided by Indigenous leadership and supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the project centres wellness, self-determination, and respect for distinctions-based experiences.

Cross-Cultural Feigning Assessment in Mexico City

This international collaboration examines how well commonly used feigning assessment tools, such as the Test of Memory Malingering–2 (TOMM-2), Dot Counting Test (DCT), Inventory of Problems-29 (IOP-29), Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test (M-FAST), and the Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS-2), perform with Spanish-speaking adults in Mexico City. Findings reveal how cultural and linguistic differences affect the accuracy of tests used to detect feigned or exaggerated symptoms in forensic evaluations. The project is the first to evaluate these measures in a Latin American population and provides critical insight into improving the fairness and validity of forensic assessments across cultures.

Mental Health Experiences of Women on Probation & Parole in Canada

The study investigates the mental health experiences of women on probation and parole in Canada, highlighting their use of mental health services and the factors influencing help-seeking. It emphasizes the importance of culturally safe, trauma-informed care and recommends creating flexible treatment plans tailored to women’s needs. Findings aim to inform policy and practice improvements.

Recent Publications

^†graduate trainees, ^‡undergraduate trainees, *community partners. A complete list of our publications can be reviewed on Google Scholar and ResearchGate.

2025

Schmid^†, A., Garcia-Lopez, E., Rosenfeld, B., & Nijdam-Jones, A. (2025). Predicting Institutional Violence: Utility of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised in a Mexican Prison Context. Assessment.

Nijdam-Jones, A., Montgomery, J. N., & Matthew^‡, T. (September 2025). University of Manitoba’s Northern Frontiers Practicum: 2025 program evaluation. Winnipeg, Canada: Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba.

Vovchuk^‡, A., Layden, B., & Nijdam-Jones, A. (2025). University students’ perceptions of stalking threat: The role of gender and relationship type. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, Advanced Online Publication.

Aminot^‡, K., Ryan, T. J., & Nijdam-Jones, A. (2025). Legal perceptions of forensic mental health professionals’ competency to stand trial evaluations. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 31(3), 281–294.

2024

Aminot^‡, K., Ryan, T. J., & Nijdam-Jones, A. (2024). Delusion or conspiracy? How forensic mental health professionals differentiate delusional beliefs from extreme radicalized beliefs. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 51(10), 1548–1569.

Hardman^†, M., Nijdam-Jones, A., & Demetrioff, S. (2024). Characteristics associated with criminal responsibility assessment outcomes among female-identifying accused in central Canada. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 94, 101988.

Burgess^†, B., & Nijdam-Jones, A. (2024). Culturally Responsive Offender Rehabilitation: Future Directions. In M. Daffern & C. M. Chu (Eds.), Approaches to Offender Rehabilitation in Asian jurisdictions: Integration of Western Models and Cultural Adaptations (pp. 245-261). Routledge.

Cortvriendt^‡, J. W., Garcia-Lopez, E., Rosenfeld, B., & Nijdam-Jones, A. (2024). Predictive validity of the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide—Revised in Mexico. Journal of Threat Assessment and Management, 11(4), 248-261.

2023

Aparcero, M., Picard, E., Nijdam-Jones, A., & Rosenfeld, B. (2023). Comparing the ability of MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF validity scales to detect feigning: A meta-analysis. Assessment, Advanced Online.

Goldenson, J., Nijdam-Jones, A., Druhn, N., Hill, D., Coupland, S., & Roesch, R. (2023). The practice of clinical forensic psychology in Canada: Current landscape and future directions. Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne, 64(4), 306–312.

Mollons^†, M. O., Penner, K. E., Elsom^†, A. L., Cameron, E. E., Hunter, S., Woods, L., Tomfohr-Madsen, L. M., Nijdam-Jones, A., & Roos, L. E. (2023). COVID-19 and Indigenous youth wellbeing: A review. Current Opinion in Psychology, 53, 101659.

Nijdam-Jones, A., Cortvriendt^‡, J., & Daffern, M. (2023). Diversity in the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 1-12.

Nijdam-Jones, A., García-López, E., Merchan^†, L., Ruiz Guarneros^†, A., & Rosenfeld, B.(2023). Cross-cultural violence risk assessment: Adapting the HCR-20^V3 for incarcerated offenders in Mexico. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 2(1), 39–55.

2022

Aparcero, M., Picard, E. H., Nijdam-Jones, A., & Rosenfeld, B. (2023). Comparing the ability of MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF validity scales to detect feigning: A meta-analysis. Assessment, 30(3), 744–760.

Picard, E., Aparcero, M., Nijdam-Jones, A., & Rosenfeld, B. (2023). Identifying positive impression management using the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-2-RF: A meta-analysis. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 37(3), 545–561.

2021

Aparcero, M., Picard, E. H., Nijdam-Jones, A., & Rosenfeld, B. (2021). The impact of coaching on feigned psychiatric and medical symptoms: A meta-analysis using the MMPI-2. Psychological Assessment, 33(8), 729–745.

Nijdam-Jones, A., García-López, E., Merchan, L., Ruiz Guarneros, A. & Rosenfeld, B. (2021). Predictive validity of the HCR-20^V3 with incarcerated males in Mexico City. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 48, 1450-1467.

2020

Nijdam-Jones, A., & McNiel, D. (2020). Prospective study of mental health court and life satisfaction. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 73, 101643.

Nijdam-Jones, A., Chen, Y., & Rosenfeld, B.(2020). Detection of feigned Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A meta-analysis of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(7), 790–798.

Nijdam-Jones, A., García-López, E., Merchan, L., Ruiz Guarneros, A., & Rosenfeld, B. (2021). Predictive validity of the HCR-20^V3 with incarcerated males in Mexico City. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 48(10), 1450–1467.

Selected Pubs from 2019 and Earlier

Nijdam-Jones, A., Rivera, D., Rosenfeld, B., & Arango-Lasprilla, J.C. (2019). The effect of literacy and culture on cognitive effort test performance: An examination of the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) in Colombia. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 41, 1015-1023.

Nijdam-Jones, A., Rosenfeld, B., Gerbrandij, J., Quick, E., & Galietta, M. (2018). Psychopathology of stalking offenders: Examining the clinical, demographic, and stalking characteristics of a community-based sample. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 45, 712-731.

Nijdam-Jones, A., Rivera, D., Rosenfeld, B., & Arango-Lasprilla, J.C. (2017). A cross-cultural analysis of the Test of Memory Malingering among Latin American Spanish-speaking adults. Law and Human Behavior, 41, 422-428.

Nijdam-Jones, A., & Rosenfeld, B. (2017). Cross-cultural feigning assessment: A systematic review of feigning instruments used with linguistically, ethnically and culturally diverse samples. Psychological Assessment, 29, 1321-1336.