Detecting malingered pain-related disability with the pain catastrophizing scale: a criterion groups validation study.

Intentional exaggeration of symptoms is a potential problem in contexts where there are financial incentives to appear disabled. Therefore, calibration of tools to accurately evaluate malingering in these contexts is important. The present study used a criterion groups validation design to determine the ability of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) to detect Malingered Pain-Related Disability (MPRD).

Classification accuracy of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2)-Restructured form validity scales in detecting malingered pain-related disability.

The symptom reports of individuals with chronic pain are multidimensional (e.g., emotional, cognitive, and somatic) and significantly contribute to increased morbidity and lost work productivity.

Clusters of financially incentivized chronic pain patients using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF).

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) has been shown to have clinical utility in the assessment of individuals with chronic pain (e.g., predicting surgical outcomes).

Accuracy of the Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire and Pain Disability Index in the detection of malingered pain-related disability in chronic pain.

The Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire (MSPQ) and the Pain Disability Index (PDI) are both popular clinical screening instruments in general orthopedic, rheumatologic, and neurosurgical clinics and are useful for identifying pain patients whose physical symptom presentations and disability may be non-organic. Previous studies found both to accurately detect malingered pain presentations; however, the generalizability of these results is not clear. This study used a criterion groups validation design (retrospective cohort of patients with chronic pain, n = 328) with a simulator group (college students, n = 98) to determine the accuracy of the MSPQ and PDI in detecting Malingered Pain Related Disability.

Assessment of performance validity in the Stroop Color and Word Test in mild traumatic brain injury patients: a criterion-groups validation design.

The current study assessed performance validity on the Stroop Color and Word Test (Stroop) in mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) using criterion-groups validation. The sample consisted of 77 patients with a reported history of mild TBI. Data from 42 moderate-severe TBI and 75 non-head-injured patients with other clinical diagnoses were also examined.

The assessment of performance and self-report validity in persons claiming pain-related disability.

One third of all people will experience spinal pain in their lifetime and half of these will experience chronic pain. Pain often occurs in the context of a legally compensable event with back pain being the most common reason for filing a Workers Compensation claim in the United States. When financial incentives to appear disabled exist, malingered pain-related disability is a potential problem.

A misleading review of response bias: comment on McGrath, Mitchell, Kim, and Hough (2010).

In the May 2010 issue of Psychological Bulletin, R. E. McGrath, M.

Classification accuracy of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III modifier indices in the detection of malingering in traumatic brain injury.

The present study used criterion groups validation to determine the ability of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III) modifier indices to detect malingering in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Patients with TBI who met criteria for malingered neurocognitive dysfunction (MND) were compared to those who showed no indications of malingering. Data were collected from 108 TBI patients referred for neuropsychological evaluation.

Memory in traumatic brain injury: the effects of injury severity and effort on the Wechsler Memory Scale-III.

This study examined the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III) performance. Since poor effort potentially contaminates results, effort was explicitly assessed and controlled using two well-validated cognitive validity indicators, the Portland Digit Recognition Test (PDRT) and Reliable Digit Span (RDS). Participants were 44 mild TBI patients with good effort, 48 mild TBI patients with poor effort, and 40 moderate-severe TBI patients with good effort.

Criterion groups validation of the Seashore Rhythm Test and Speech Sounds Perception Test for the detection of malingering in traumatic brain injury.

A criterion-groups validation was used to determine the classification accuracy of the Seashore Rhythm Test (SRT) and Speech Sounds Perception Test (SSPT) in detecting malingered neurocognitive dysfunction (MND) in traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI patients were classified into the following groups: (1) Mild TBI Not-MND (n = 24); (2) Mild TBI MND (n = 27); and (3) Moderate/Severe TBI Not-MND (n = 23). A sample of 90 general clinical patients was utilized for comparison.

The Reliable Digit Span test in chronic pain: classification accuracy in detecting malingered pain-related disability.

This study used criterion groups validation (known-groups design) to examine the classification accuracy of the Reliable Digit Span test (RDS) in a large group of chronic pain patients referred for psychological evaluation. The sample consisted of 612 patients classified into one of six groups based on evidence of malingered pain-related disability (MPRD): No-Incentive, Not MPRD; Incentive-Only, Not MPRD; Indeterminate; Possible MPRD; Probable MPRD; Definite MPRD. A total of 30 college student simulators were also included.

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III and malingering in traumatic brain injury: classification accuracy in known groups.

A known-groups design was used to determine the classification accuracy of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) variables in detecting malingered neurocognitive dysfunction (MND) in traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI patients were classified into the following groups: (a) mild TBI not-MND (n = 26), (b) mild TBI MND (n = 31), and (c) moderate/severe (M/S) TBI not-MND (n = 26). A sample of 80 general clinical patients was used for comparison.

Detection of malingering in mild traumatic brain injury with the Conners' Continuous Performance Test-II.

Classification accuracy for the detection of malingered neurocognitive dysfunction (MND) in mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is examined for two selected measures from the Conners' Continuous Performance Test-II (CPT-II) using criterion-groups validation. Individual and joint classification accuracies are presented for Omissions and Hit Reaction Time Standard Error across a range of scores comparing mild TBI malingering (n = 27), mild TBI not-malingering (n = 31), and moderate-to-severe (M/S) TBI not-malingering (n = 24) groups. At cutoffs associated with at least 95% specificity in both mild and M/S TBI, sensitivity to MND in mild TBI was 30% for Omissions, 41% for Hit Reaction Time Standard Error, and 44% using both indicators.

Detecting malingered pain-related disability: classification accuracy of the test of memory malingering.

This study used criterion groups validation to determine the accuracy of the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) in detecting malingered pain-related disability (MPRD) across a range of cutoffs in chronic pain patients undergoing psychological evaluation (n = 604). Data from patients with traumatic brain injury (n = 45) and dementia (n = 59) are presented for comparison. TOMM scores decreased and failure rates increased as a function of greater external evidence of intentional under-performance.

Prevalence of malingering in patients with chronic pain referred for psychologic evaluation in a medico-legal context.

Objective: To provide an empirical estimate of the prevalence of malingered disability in patients with chronic pain who have financial incentive to appear disabled.

Design: Retrospective review of cases.

Setting: A private neuropsychologic clinic in a southeastern metropolitan area.

Executive dysfunction in traumatic brain injury: the effects of injury severity and effort on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.

This study examined the persistent effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) performance. Since poor effort can contaminate results in populations with incentive to perform poorly, performance validity was explicitly assessed and controlled for using multiple well-validated cognitive malingering indicators. Participants were 109 patients with mild TBI and 67 patients with moderate-to-severe TBI seen for neuropsychological evaluation at least one year post injury.

Detecting malingered pain-related disability: classification accuracy of the Portland Digit Recognition Test.

This study used criterion groups validation to determine the classification accuracy of the Portland Digit Recognition Test (PDRT) at a range of cutting scores in chronic pain patients undergoing psychological evaluation (n = 318), college student simulators (n = 29), and patients with brain damage (n = 120). PDRT scores decreased and failure rates increased as a function of greater independent evidence of intentional underperformance. There were no differences between patients classified as malingering and college student simulators.

Rates of below-chance performance in forced-choice symptom validity tests.

The rates of significantly below-chance results on three neuropsychological symptom validity tests (SVTs) including the Portland Digit Recognition Test (PDRT), Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM), and Word Memory Test (WMT) were compared in a private practice forensic sample of 1032 examinees with alleged mild traumatic brain injury, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, alleged toxic exposure, and reported chronic pain. The PDRT and WMT were equivalent to one another in the rates of below-chance results, with both yielding more frequent below-chance results than the TOMM. Seemingly more difficult sections of the PDRT and WMT had higher yields than seemingly easier sections.

Are the original and second edition of the California Verbal Learning Test equally accurate in detecting malingering?

This two-part study sought to determine the equivalence of the California Verbal Learning Tests (CVLT-1 and CVLT-2) in the detection of malingering in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic pain. Part 1 compared a variety of scores from the two versions in carefully matched patient groups. Part 2 used criterion groups (known-groups) methodology to examine the relative rates of false positive (FP) errors across the two versions.

Test of memory malingering and word memory test: a new comparison of failure concordance rates.

Two commonly used symptom validity tests are the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) and Word Memory Test (WMT). After examining TOMM-WMT failure concordance rates, Green [Green, P. (2007).

Verbal fluency indicators of malingering in traumatic brain injury: classification accuracy in known groups.

A known-groups design was used to determine the classification accuracy of verbal fluency variables in detecting Malingered Neurocognitive Dysfunction (MND) in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants were 204 TBI and 488 general clinical patients. The Slick et al.

Detecting malingering in traumatic brain injury and chronic pain: a comparison of three forced-choice symptom validity tests.

Individual and joint malingering detection accuracy of the Portland Digit Recognition Test (PDRT), Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM), and Word Memory Test (WMT) was examined in traumatic brain injury (TBI; 43 non-malingering, 27 malingering) and chronic pain (CP; 42 non-malingering, 58 malingering) using a known-groups design. At published cutoffs, the PDRT and TOMM were very specific but failed to detect about 50% of malingerers; the WMT was sensitive but prone to false positive errors. ROC analyses demonstrated comparable accuracy across all three tests.

Observed versus estimated IQ as an index of malingering in traumatic brain injury: classification accuracy in known groups.

This study examined the classification accuracy of observed WAIS-III VIQ, PIQ, and FSIQ minus Barona-estimate differential scores in the detection of Malingered Neurocognitive Dysfunction (MND) in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) using a known-groups design. Two hundred eleven TBI patients were assigned to one of three groups: Not-MND (n = 87), Indeterminate (n = 68), and MND (n = 56). A General Clinical Sample of 93 no-incentive patients (e.

Detecting malingering in traumatic brain injury and chronic pain with an abbreviated version of the Meyers Index for the MMPI-2.

Meyers, Millis, and Volkert [Meyers, J. E., Millis, S.

Malingering detection with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test in mild traumatic brain injury.

This study evaluates the ability of several Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST; Psychological Assessment Resources, 1990) variables to detect malingering in mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). The sample consisted of 373 TBI patients and 766 general clinical patients. Classification accuracy for seven indicators is reported across a range of injury severity and scores levels.