Feigning ≠ Feigning a Memory Deficit: The Medical Symptom Validity Test as an Example

Abstract

The Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT) is a widely used memory test with three built-in effort measures that aim to detect feigning. We evaluated the merits of the MSVT as a broad screening tool for symptom validity. In study 1, we interviewed participants (N = 54) about the symptoms that they would and would certainly not feign. Non-specific somatic symptoms and depression were mentioned most frequently. Nearly 10% of the participants stated that they would certainly not feign memory problems. Study 2 contrasted the diagnostic accuracy of the MSVT with that of a broad index of symptom exaggeration (Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology; SIMS) in experimental malingerers (N = 42) who were free to choose which psychological symptoms to feign. Although both tests correctly identified all honest controls (100% specificity), the SIMS surpassed the MSVT in correctly identifying experimental malingerers (91% versus 45%). In study 3, we explored the overlap between MSVT effort parameters and SIMS scores in a psychiatric sample (N = 21). Only one MSVT parameter (Delayed Recognition) was significantly related to SIMS scores (φ = −.52, p < .05). The results indicate that memory-oriented symptom validity tests such as the MSVT may be useful for detecting feigned memory deficits but that such tests perform less well as screening tools for other types of feigned psychopathology.

The Verifiability Approach to detection of malingered physical symptoms

“…However, the incidence of selected symptoms amongst truth tellers was consistent with previous research about symptoms most frequently experienced by non-malingerers (see Dandachi-FitzGerald & Merckelbach, 2013;Petrie et al, 2014).…”

The Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…These qualities generalize across gender (e.g., Alwes, Clark, Berry, & Granacher, 2008;Wisdom et al, 2010), race (Edens et al, 2007;Vitacco et al, 2007), and language (i.e., Dutch: Merckelbach & Smith, 2003;German: Cima et al, 2003;and Spanish: González Ordi & Santamaría Fernández, 2009). In addition, the SIMS is relatively easy to administer and interpret, and it measures a wide range of symptoms that are likely targets for feigning (see Dandachi-FitzGerald & Merckelbach, 2013).…”

Mother Teresa Doesn't Help Here: Lack of Moral Priming Effects on Malingered Symptom Reports and What We Can Learn from it

“…All participants were first provided with a case vignette that we have employed in previous studies (e.g., Merckelbach, Smeets, & Jelicic, 2009; see also Dandachi-FitzGerald & Merckelbach, 2012). The vignette is about an employee who for more than 10 years has been very loyal to his organisation, with work weeks often exceeding 50 hours so as to support his colleagues.…”

“…To date, the main targets of tests designed to detect underperformance have been recall and/or recognition during simple memory tasks, with little attention given to malingering in other cognitive domains (e.g., attention, motor behaviour, abstraction, language). Elsewhere, we have argued that this emphasis on malingered memory deficits is problematic because not all malingerers have a preference for memory impairments (Dandachi-FitzGerald & Merckelbach, 2012). Thus, there is a need for broad screening instruments tapping into malingered cognitive deficits.…”

“…As we have argued elsewhere, a limitation of many underperformance tests is that they exclusively address memory performance, although it is not at all evident that most malingerers have a preference for feigning memory impairment (Dandachi-FitzGerald & Merckelbach, 2012). A subsidiary aim of the current study was therefore to explore the merits of the vocabulary and abstraction subtests developed by Schretlen, Wilkins, van Gorp, and Bobholz (1992).…”