Assessing dissimulation among Social Security disability income claimants.

Abstract

Social Security disability income programs have been tested by increasingly politicized concerns regarding widespread fraud among claimants. This study was an initial investigation of malingering among claimants in Los Angeles seeking disability income on psychological grounds. After a review of 100 disability income applications, a population-appropriate instrument was developed from established psychometric indices of malingering. The Composite Disability Malingering Index was completed by 167 disability claimants (possible malingerers), a sex, age and IQ cognate group of 63 psychologically disabled individuals without incentive to malinger (disabled nonmalingerers), and 45 disability examiners with instructions to malinger (instructed malingerers). The mean score of instructed malingerers and the score at the 95th percentile of the disabled nonmalingerers converged, indicating 8 as the critical score. This cutting score found 32 (19%) of disability claimants to be malingering. Self-reported substance abuse history was the only participant variable that significantly predicted higher malingering scores.

Derivation and Cross-Validation of Cutoff Scores for Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders on WAIS-IV Digit Span–Based Performance Validity Measures

“…The prevalence of malingering varies greatly depending on the sample studied and the methodology used. Estimated prevalence rates have been assessed to be 15.7% across various clinical forensic evaluations (Rogers, Sewell, & Goldstein, 1994), 12.7% in competency to stand trial evaluations (Gothard, Rogers, & Sewell, 1995), 19% among Social Security disability income claimants (Griffin, Normington, May, & Glassmire, 1996), 26% among examinees with financially compensable mild head trauma (Binder & Willis, 1991), and 33% to 60% among chronic postconcussive patients (Greiffenstein, Baker, & Gola, 1994). Mittenberg, Patton, Canyock, and Condit (2002) surveyed diplomates of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology regarding their perceptions of the base rates of probable malingering in their practices and the estimated base rate was 29% for personal injury evaluations, 30% for disability evaluations, 19% for criminal forensic evaluations, and 8% for medical evaluations.…”

Ethical and Professional Demands for Forensic Mental Health Professionals in the Post-Atkins Era

“…The research literature suggests that the base rate for deception or malingering among individuals claiming cognitive impairment may range from 20% (Griffin, Normington, May, & Glassmire, 1996) to 40% (Greiffenstein, Baker, & Gola, 1994). Considering that the Atkins decision allows for mentally retarded persons to avoid capital punishment, sufficient motivation may exist to feign cognitive impairment.…”

Effect of Symptom Information and Validity Scale Information on the Malingering of Depression on the MMPI-2

“…More research on the ability of people to fake depression on the MMPI-2 is needed because major depression is a common diagnosis in disability claims and in personal injury lawsuits (Griffin et al, 1996;Reich, 1986). Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine how well college students could fake depression on the MMPI-2 when provided with information about the symptoms of depression and about MMPI-2 validity scales.…”