Developing a Symptom Validity Test for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Application of the binomial distribution

Morel, Kenneth R.; Shepherd, Bryan E.

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2008.01.011

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The MENT is symptom validity test specifically designed to detect individuals attempting to feign PTSD and was developed with a VA population (Morel & Shepherd, 2008a, b;Messer & Fremouw, 2007). We recommend that examiners consider using the MENT in Initial PTSD exams, along with the other measures mentioned earlier, e.g., the MMPI-2.…”

Section: Specialized Testing For Feigned Ptsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Practical Guide to Conducting VA Compensation and Pension Exams for PTSD and Other Mental Disorders

Worthen

Moering

2011

Psychol. Inj. and Law

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Despite being one of the most common forensic mental health evaluations, no article has ever appeared in a peer-reviewed journal describing how to conduct US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health compensation and pension examinations. This article rectifies that paucity of information. We outline the legal framework, ethical considerations, and administrative challenges inherent in these evaluations. We provide separate guidelines for private practice clinicians and VA staff or contractors. We pay special attention to the multiple sources of collateral information available for these exams and how to access relevant records.

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Section: Specialized Testing For Feigned Ptsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Practical Guide to Conducting VA Compensation and Pension Exams for PTSD and Other Mental Disorders

Worthen

Moering

2011

Psychol. Inj. and Law

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“…Other Tests of Potential Use Morel (1998) developed the Morel Emotional Numbing Test (MENT; see also Morel and Shepherd 2008a) to distinguish real from feigned PTSD and focuses on a core PTSD symptom. Norms are available for legitimate PTSD claimants, other psychiatric groups, and for patients identified as probably exaggerating.…”

Section: Cognitive Symptom Validity Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Assessing Response Style and Malingering

Rubenzer¹

2009

Psychol. Inj. and Law

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Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may form the basis for disability or worker's compensation claims or a personal injury lawsuit. While now achieving widespread acceptance among treating professionals and the public, PTSD is the subject of several controversies and the possibility of faking in a compensation context. There appears to be a dramatic split among mental health professionals who write primarily from a treatment or plaintiff perspective and those who take a more skeptical approach. This article reviews recent developments in the assessment of malingering, including symptom validity measures, and applies them to the assessment of PTSD. Recommendations for current practice are provided.

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“…The nature of the items depends on the symptoms reported by the patient. For example, items may pertain to autobiographical facts when patients report severe memory loss (i.e., amnesia) or they might be facial expressions when patients report emotional numbing (e.g., Morel & Sheperd, 2008). Target and distractor items may be designed specifically for the case at hand or they may be derived from commercially available standardized tests.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forced-Choice Tests as Single-Case Experiments in the Differential Diagnosis of Intentional Symptom Distortion

Merten

2012

Journal of Experimental Psychopathology

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Symptom validity testing has become a prolific research field in neuropsychology. Its original and most powerful version is the forced-choice procedure that continues to play an important role because it allows for an experimental approach to test the hypothesis of intentional symptom distortion. When conducting forced-choice tests, below-chance response patterns are considered to be indicative of this type of distortion. In this article, we discuss the rationale behind the forced-choice technique and its historical development. We also present three case vignettes that illustrate the experimental background of forced-choice testing and how it may help to clarify diagnostic issues. The diagnostic considerations in these cases concerned (1) complete memory loss, (2) Ganser syndrome, and (3) dementia. Employing forced-choice methodology, intentional false symptom production could be demonstrated in all three patients. Thus, the cases demonstrate how, in the context of substantial external benefits, forced-choice testing may help to determine whether healthy individuals try to appear psychologically impaired.

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Developing a Symptom Validity Test for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Application of the binomial distribution

Cited by 9 publications

References 19 publications

A Practical Guide to Conducting VA Compensation and Pension Exams for PTSD and Other Mental Disorders

A Practical Guide to Conducting VA Compensation and Pension Exams for PTSD and Other Mental Disorders

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Assessing Response Style and Malingering

Forced-Choice Tests as Single-Case Experiments in the Differential Diagnosis of Intentional Symptom Distortion

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