Specificity of performance validity tests in patients with confirmed epilepsy.

Objective: While assessment of performance validity is essential to neuropsychological evaluations, use of performance validity tests (PVTs) in an epilepsy population has raised concerns due to factors that may result in performance fluctuations. The current study assessed whether specificity was maintained at previously suggested cutoffs in a confirmed epilepsy population on the Warrington Recognition Memory Test (WRMT) - Words and Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM). Method: Eighty-two confirmed epilepsy patients were administered the WRMT-Words and TOMM as part of a standardized neuropsychological evaluation. Frequency tables were utilized to investigate specificity rates on these two PVTs. Results: The suggested WRMT-Words Accuracy Score cutoff of ≤42 was associated with a specificity rate of 90.2%. Five out of the 8 individuals falling below the Accuracy Score cutoff scored 42, suggesting specificity could be further improved by slightly lowering the cutoff. The WRMT-Words Total Time cutoff of ≥207 seconds was associated with 95.1% specificity. A TOMM Trial 1 cutoff of <40 was associated with 93.9% specificity, while the established cutoff of <45 on Trial 2 and the Retention Trial yielded specificity rates of 98.6% and 100.0%, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate acceptable performance on two PVTs in a select confirmed epilepsy population without a history of brain surgery, active seizures during testing, and/or low IQ, irrespective of various factors such as seizure type, seizure lateralization/localization, and language lateralization. The possible presence of interictal discharges were not controlled for in the current study, which may have contributed to reduced PVT performances.

Simulação de esquizofrenia no Teste de Rorschach (R-PAS) / Schizophrenia simulation in the Rorschach Test (R-PAS) / Simulación de esquizofrenia en el Teste Rorschach (R-PAS)

Este trabalho teve como objetivo comparar o desempenho no Teste de Rorschach (R-PAS), de pessoas instruídas sobre os sintomas da esquizofrenia e solicitadas a responder ao Rorschach, tentando se passar por um paciente com esse diagnóstico (n = 40), com o de pacientes diagnosticados com esquizofrenia (n = 35). Os participantes responderam ao Teste de Rorschach (R-PAS), a Magical Ideation Scale (MIS) e ao Inventory of Problems-29 (IOP-29) tentando simular esquizofrenia. Os resultados das comparações entre os grupos evidenciaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas para as variáveis (Hd), An, FQo, FQu, FQ-, P, M, PEC, WSumCog, MAH, GHR e Complexity. Encontrou-se também associação positiva e de forte magnitude entre os escores obtidos no IOP-29 e os escores brutos da MIS (r = 0,73, p = 0,0001). Os achados evidenciaram que, mesmo diante das tentativas de distorção das respostas ao teste, simuladores não conseguem distanciar da própria precisão perceptiva. (AU)

This study compared the performance in the Rorschach Test (R-PAS) of people informed about the symptoms of schizophrenia and asked to respond to the Rorschach trying to impersonate a patient with this diagnosis (n = 40) with that of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (n = 35). Participants responded to the Rorschach Test (R-PAS), the Magical Ideation Scale (MIS) and the Inventory of Problems-29 (IOP-29) trying to simulate schizophrenia. The results of the comparisons between the groups showed statistically significant differences for the variables (Hd), An, FQo, CFQ, CF-, P, M, PEC, WSumCog, MAH, GHR and Complexity. A positive and strong association was also found between the scores obtained in the IOP-29 and the gross scores of the MIS (r=.73, p=.0001). The findings show that even faced with attempts to distort the responses to the test, simulators cannot distance themselves from their perceptual accuracy. (AU)

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comparar el rendimiento en el Test de Rorschach (R-PAS) de personas educadas sobre los síntomas de la esquizofrenia y solicitadas a responder al Rorschach, tratando de pasar por un paciente con este diagnóstico (n = 40) con el de los pacientes diagnosticados con esquizofrenia (n = 35). Los participantes respondieron al Test de Rorschach (R-PAS), a la Magical Ideation Scale (MIS) y al Inventory of Problems-29 (IOP-29) intentando simular la esquizofrenia. Los resultados de las comparaciones entre los grupos mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas para las variables (Hd), An, FQo, CFQ, CF-, P, M, PEC, WSumCog, MAH, GHR y Complexity. También se encontró una asociación de magnitud positiva y fuerte entre los scores obtenidos en la IOP-29 y los scores brutos del MIS (r = 0,73, p = 0,0001). Los hallazgos muestran que, incluso frente a los intentos de distorsionar las respuestas del test, los simuladores no son capaces de distanciarse de su precisión perceptiva. (AU)

Cues for feigning screening in whiplash associated disorders.

The objective of this work is to evaluate the ability of a series of possible feigning indicators, extracted from relevant literature in the field, to discriminate between clinical patients with genuine symptomatology and instructed malingerers. A sample of 273 participants divided into two groups was used for this study: 153 whiplash associated disorder patients who were evaluated at a multidisciplinary medical center in the region of Murcia (Spain), between December 2017 and March 2019 and 120 healthy controls with malingering instructions, students of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Murcia. In order for researchers to evaluate the indicators included in the study, a 22-step checklist (CDS) was developed, consisting of 22 criteria divided into 5 dimensions. Our results show that 18 of 22 indicators could discriminate between groups. Dimension 2 "Attitude toward the situation of illness" presented the greatest capacity for discrimination. In general terms, malingerers express a much more negative experience of the condition than the clinical patients.

Recurrent Ethylene Glycol Poisoning with Elevated Lactate Levels to Obtain Opioid Medications.

BACKGROUND: Malingering is when a patient feigns illness for secondary gain. While most patients with malingering manufacture or exaggerate symptoms, some patients may induce illness. Previous reports of malingering patients inducing illness include sepsis, kidney pain, migraine, and chest pain. However, acute poisoning as a manifestation of malingering appears to be rare. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 39-year-old man who presented to the emergency department complaining of diffuse body pain. The patient reported multiple admission at outside hospitals for "lactate" and said, "it feels like it is happening again because of how my body feels." Laboratory findings were concerning for serum lactate of >20.0 mmol/L and ethylene glycol (EG) level of 19 mg/dL. A chart review found that the man had been admitted for elevated serum lactate 8 times to area hospitals in several years, often in the setting of EG poisoning. During these episodes he required intravenous fluids and frequent intravenous pain medications. When confronted about concern regarding the recurrent fallacious lactate levels in the setting of factitious EG ingestion, the patient often became combative and left against medical advice. The primary metabolite of EG, glycolic acid, can interfere with lactate assays, causing a false elevation. Our patient apparently recognized this and took advantage of it to be admitted and receive intravenous opioids. This is the only case known to us of malingering via EG ingestion. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Emergency physicians should be aware that metabolites of EG may interfere with serum lactate assay. In addition, they should be aware of possible malingering-related poisoning and plausible association with requests for intravenous opioid pain medications. This represents a risk to the patient and others if undiagnosed.

[Use of the Symptom Validation Test BEVA in Social Medical Assessment]. / Einsatz des Beschwerdenvalidierungstests BEVA in der sozialmedizinischen Begutachtung.

The present study investigates whether the BEVA is suitable to detect negative response bias by claimants with psychosomatic symptoms in the social medical assessment. 107 claimants for disability pension to a psychosomatic disorder fulfilled the BEVA, SIMS and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The social medical examiners assess the credibility of the complaints representation. A Known-Group-Design and a Bootstrapping-Design was used to estimate the validity of the BEVA. For the external criterion SFSS the following psychometric characteristics for the BEVA could be determined: specificity=0.86, sensitivity=0.42, positive predictive value=0.81, negative predictive value=0.51. The interrater reliability estimates with Cohen κ=0.253. If the expert's assessments are chosen as external criterion following psychometric characteristics were estimated: specificity=0.71, sensitivity=0.32, positive predictive value=0.38, negative predictive value=0.66. The rater agreement is Cohen κ=0.031. The results show that the BEVA has an excellent specificity in the detection of negative response bias. This is highly desirable in terms of an ethically moral discussion. Furthermore, the study shows that - in addition to the expert estimates - further screenings can improve the assessment of negative response bias.

[Assessment of Negative Response Bias - Development and Validation of the BEVA]. / Erfassung von negativen Antwortverzerrungen - Entwicklung und Validierung des Beschwerdenvalidierungstests BEVA.

AIM OF THE STUDY: A screening will be developed and validated which measure the negative response bias by inpatients with depressive symptoms. The questionnaire should be appropriate for the claimants for disability pension due to a mental illness. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The present study uses for the construction (K) and validation (V) an analog study design. Healthy participants (depression: K: N=58; V=100; pain: K: N=50; V: N=90) obtained a scenario to feign major depression or pain disorder in the BEVA. In addition, a control group (K: N=78; V: N=89), patients with major depression (K: N=58; V: N=162) and patients with pain disorder (K: N=35; V: N=46) completed the survey about their current mental complaints. RESULTS: Using the data of the construction sample the cut-off values were determined. In the validation sample could be analyzed a sensitivity of 0,75, specificity of 0,95, a positive predictive value of 0,90, and a negative predictive value of 0,86 for the study group "depression". For the pain group had a sensitivity of 0,81, specificity of 0,96, a positive predictive value of 0,97 and a negative predictive value of 0,72 resulted. CONCLUSION: The developed screening has very well values for the validity and reliability. Thus, the method seems suitable to measure negative response bias.

Simulação de sintomas e transtornos mentais: uma revisão crítica do fenômeno para a psicologia / Symptoms and mental disorders simulation: a critical revision of the phenomenon for psychology / Simulación de síntomas y trastornos mentales: una revisión crítica del fenómeno de la psicología

A "arte de simular" com objetivo de obter ganhos tem se inserido em diversos contextos, desde situações do dia-dia até processos cíveis e criminais. É difícil delimitar fatores para definir sua presença, manifestando-se como um contínuo. Assim, sua avaliação consiste identificá-la como um fenômeno complexo, multidimensional e multifacetado que requer abordagem biopsicossocial. Ou seja, é um tema que requer atenção de todos os profissionais que lidam com ele. O presente estudo objetiva uma revisão crítica da literatura disponível sobre o problema na área da Psicologia. Realizou-se uma pesquisa nas principais bases de produção acadêmica utilizando os verbetes: "simulação", "sintomas" e "transtornos mentais". Encontrou-se 508 publicações, porém, somente 20 publicações atenderam os critérios de relevância. Neste sentido, é notória a escassez de publicações na área e pouca visibilidade do tema, principalmente no Brasil. Torna-se imperativo que esse tema seja mais pesquisado e que conquiste espaço na formação e na prática do psicólogo devido a sua importância e consequências.

The "art of simulating" in order to obtain advantages can be found in various contexts, from day to day situations to civil and criminal cases. Its prevalence varies according to the context and type of simulation, with higher rates in the prison context. It is difficult to delineate specific factors to define its presence, manifests itself as a continuum, and it is necessary to recognize the various scenarios where it occurs. The evaluation is a complex, multidimensional and multifaceted phenomenon that requires a biopsychosocial approach. The aim of this study was a critical review of the available literature on the subject in the area of psychology. Was conducted a survey in major academic production bases using the entries: "simulation", "symptoms" and "mental disorders". It was found 508 publications; however, only 20 publications met the relevancy criteria. Considering this, there are very few publications in the area and a little visibility for this theme, especially in Brazil. It is imperative that this theme be further researched, conquering space in the formation and in the psychologist's practice because of its importance and consequences.

El "arte del engaño" con fin de obtener ganancias se ha insertado en varios dominios, desde situaciones del día a día hasta los procesos civiles y criminales. Es difícil identificar los factores específicos para delimitar su presencia. Manifiestase en un continuo, siendo necesario reconocer los diferentes escenarios donde el mismo ocurre. Así, su evaluación consiste en la identificación de un fenómeno complejo, muldimensional y multifacético que requiere un abordaje biopsicosocial. En este sentido, la ausencia de tal práctica y su realización cuidadosa constituyese en un desafío y un recto para todos que trabajan con el fenómeno. Este artículo tiene como objetivo hacer una revisión crítica de la literatura disponible sobre el tema en Psicología. Se ha realizado una búsqueda en las principales bases de producción académicas utilizando las entradas: "simulación", "síntomas" y "trastornos mentales". Encontraranse 508 publicaciones, sin embargo, sólo 20 de las encontradas cumplían los criterios de pertinencia. Así, hay pocos estudios en el área y baja visibilidad, especialmente en Brasil. Es imprescindible que este asunto sea investigado más profundamente y conquiste espacio en la formación y la práctica del psicólogo debido a su importancia y consecuencias.

Can brief measures effectively screen for pain and somatic malingering? Examination of the Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire and Pain Disability Index.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Recent rise in fraudulent disability claims in the United States has resulted in psychologists being increasingly called upon to use psychological tests to determine whether disability claims based on psychological or somatic/pain complaints are legitimate. PURPOSE: To examine two brief measures, Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire (MSPQ) and the Pain Disability Index (PDI), and their ability to screen for malingering in relation to the Bianchini et al. criteria for malingered pain-related disability published in The Spine Journal (2005). STUDY DESIGN: Examined brief self-report measures between litigating and nonlitigating pain samples. PATIENT SAMPLE: We compared 144 disability litigants, predominantly presenting a history of musculoskeletal injuries with psychiatric overlay, with 167 nonlitigating pain patients who were predominantly in treatment for chronic back pain issues and other musculoskeletal conditions. OUTCOME MEASURES: Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire, Pain Disability Index, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form, Test of Memory Malingering, Letter Memory Test, Victoria Symptom Validity Test, Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms-second edition, Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders somatoform disorders module. METHODS: We examined a sample of 144 individuals undergoing compensation-seeking evaluations in relation to 167 nonlitigating pain patients. RESULTS: Group differences on both the MSPQ and PDI were calculated, as well as sensitivities, specificities, and positive and negative predictive powers for both measures at selected cutoffs. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that both the MSPQ and PDI are useful to screen for pain malingering in forensic evaluations, especially the MSPQ, which performed the best in differentiating between the groups.

Specificity and sensitivity of objective tests to detect possible malingering in fibromyalgia: a case-control study in 211 Spanish patients.

OBJECTIVES: To characterise patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FM) who present a clinical profile suggestive of simulation. METHODS: Observational case-control study of 218 patients who met the classification criteria for FM. The profile supporting simulation was based on the proposed criteria for evaluating disability related to the simulation of pain. RESULTS: Compared with controls (n=105), patients with suspected simulation of FM (n=106) had a higher mean age (52.5 vs. 49.2 years, p=0.003), a higher frequency of primary education (88.7% vs. 58.1%; p<0.001), a higher percentage of separated/widowed persons (33.9% vs. 8.6%, p<0.001), a higher frequency of psychiatric disorders (100% vs. 67.6%, p<0.001), a higher mean number of positive 'control' tender points (4.5 vs. 1.3, p<0.001), a higher mean FIQ questionnaire score (89.8 vs. 68.8, p<0.001) and a lower mean LHS questionnaire score (41.0 vs. 59.9, p<0.001). Patients with suspected simulation were able to walk a shorter distance in the 6-minute walk test than controls (231.0 vs. 356.3 metres, p<0.001), while the appearance of allodynia was achieved with a significantly lower mmHg pressure (159.8 vs. 229.9 mm Hg, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Some physical/functional tests, together with the administration of specific questionnaires, may identify a subgroup of patients with FM with a profile consistent with simulation or malingering; these patients have a differentiated demographic and psychiatric profile in comparison with FM patients without a profile of simulation.

[Patient careers in the orthopedic pain treatment. Sociological studies on pain behavior]. / Pfade in der orthopädischen Schmerzversorgung. Soziologische Untersuchungen zum Schmerzhandeln.

BACKGROUND: Based on case histories the following study raises the question why some pain patients remain permanently on the path of specialist pain treatment after initial treatment whereas other patients with similar pain reports do not. METHOD: In this study 134 qualitative interviews were conducted in order to research patient career paths. The study population included patients with back pain recruited from different orthopedic care settings and included persons with back pain from a general population not involved in specialized pain treatment. RESULTS: Patient career paths within medical care settings are effective in socializing and transforming the subjects. In the course of medical treatment patients learn their rights and obligations and subsequently acquire habits of typical pain behavior both in medical and domestic arrangements. Patients learn to formulate and preserve their interests and learn to align the different expectations which results in increasing identification with the career path. CONCLUSION: Conceptions of pain and pain behavior are formed in the course of patient careers while this is not necessarily a conscious or reflected process. As an unintended consequence it evolves into pain acting within the patient that integrates patients into distinct care milieus and holds them tight in the respective pain care. In these cases pain patients and their doctors fall so to say into a pain trap.

Revisión de dos instrumentos de simulación neurocognitiva y su utilidad en el contexto forense / Review of the neurocognitive malingering instrument and its useful in a forensic contex

Gran parte de la precisión de la evaluación neuropsicológica, depende que los instrumentos que utiliza, sean medidas estandarizadas, válidas y confiables. Sin embargo, la simulación, la exageración y el bajo esfuerzo son aspectos que pueden interferir en los resultados de los test. El objetivo de esta revisión pretende describir y analizar dos instrumentos en el contexto de la Neuropsicología Forense que evalúan simulación de síntomas cognitivos: el Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) y el Victoria Symptoms Validity Test (VSVT). Se realizó una búsqueda dirigida no exhaustiva, en diversas bases de datos y libros afines. El criterio de inclusión fue la utilización o revisión de los test. Se seleccionaron 68 trabajos publicados. Cada uno de los cuales fue analizado en base a las características técnicas de los instrumentos. La revisión ha demostrado que el TOMM y el VSVT son instrumentos pertinentes para valorar simulación y exageración de sintomatología cognitiva. Estos instrumentos cuentan con un cúmulo de investigaciones que avalan sus propiedades, pero también las limitaciones y restricciones de su utilización.

Most of the accuracy in neuropsychological assessment depends that the instruments used are standardized, valid and reliable measures. However, malingering, exaggeration and poor effort are aspects that can interfere with the interpretation of the results. The aim of this review was to describe and analyze two instruments in the context of forensic neuropsychology that assess malingering of cognitive symptoms: Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) and Victoria Symptoms ValidityTest (VSVT). Several scientific databases and related books were searched non-exhaustively. The criterion for inclusion in this review was the use of test. We selected 68 documents, each one was analyzed based on the technical characteristics of the instruments. Review showed that the TOMM and VSVT are relevant instruments for assessing malingering and exaggeration of cognitive symptoms. These instruments have several evidence that support their psychometric properties but also limitations and restrictions on their use.

[Psychological aspects of "reasonable efforts" for the prediction of mental disorder-related disability]. / Psychologische Aspekte der "zumutbaren Willensanspannung" bei der Prognose psychosozialer Krankheitsfolgen.

Current standards by which socio-medical expert opinions are furnished and how they forecast the effects of mental disorder on the individual level of performance are discussed. Expert reports generally focus on assessing how the impact of mental illness can be overcome by reasonable "efforts of volition", using a number of criteria within the scope of psychiatric and psychosomatic models of explanation. The article reasons that prognoses concerning impaired performance due to health problems should to a lesser degree be based on illness-related parameters and analyses which are not subject to will and intention. Instead, it asks for a clear distinction between controlled coping processes on the one hand and psychodynamic defence mechanisms and illness-related processes on the other. Forecasts should take into greater consideration to what extent the effects of mental disorder on individual behaviour can also be attributed to a wide range of deliberate, non-pathological factors. Psychological motivation and action theories should become an integral part of expert reports, as they offer some useful tools for differentiating between those disabilities that are caused by controlled action and others that can be attributed to disorder-related factors.

Relationship between performance validity testing, disability status, and somatic complaints in patients with fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain-related disorder that typically includes cognitive complaints as well as non-specific somatic complaints, such as fatigue and sleep disturbance (Wolfe et al., 2010). Fibromyalgia has also been shown to be associated with a high rate of failure on performance validity testing (PVT), which has not been examined with respect to other self-reported symptoms that are now part of the diagnostic criteria for the disorder. We evaluated 85 patients with fibromyalgia who completed objective measures of pain, sleep, and fatigue along with symptom validity measures (Word Memory Test or Test of Memory Malingering and Reliable Digit Span). Three groups were formed based on effort testing: Two PVTs Failed, One PVT Failed, and No PVTs Failed. We also formed three groups based on disability status: On Disability, Applying for Disability, and Not on Disability. A total of 37% of the patients failed one or both PVTs. PVT group analyses were significant for daily pain, weekly pain, and sleep, but not fatigue. Disability status analyses were significant for daily pain, weekly pain, and fatigue, but not sleep. The implication of this study is that PVT performance and disability status are associated with exaggeration of non-cognitive symptoms such as pain, sleep, and fatigue in persons with fibromyalgia. This study reinforces the importance of effort testing when working with medical populations.

Victoria Symptom Validity Test performance in children and adolescents with neurological disorders.

It is becoming increasingly more important to study, use, and promote the utility of measures that are designed to detect non-compliance with testing (i.e., poor effort, symptom non-validity, response bias) as part of neuropsychological assessments with children and adolescents. Several measures have evidence for use in pediatrics, but there is a paucity of published support for the Victoria Symptom Validity Test (VSVT) in this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the performance on the VSVT in a sample of pediatric patients with known neurological disorders. The sample consisted of 100 consecutively referred children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 19 years (mean = 14.0, SD = 3.1) with various neurological diagnoses. On the VSVT total items, 95% of the sample had performance in the "valid" range, with 5% being deemed "questionable" and 0% deemed "invalid". On easy items, 97% were "valid", 2% were "questionable", and 1% was "invalid." For difficult items, 84% were "valid," 16% were "questionable," and 0% was "invalid." For those patients given two effort measures (i.e., VSVT and Test of Memory Malingering; n = 65), none was identified as having poor test-taking compliance on both measures. VSVT scores were significantly correlated with age, intelligence, processing speed, and functional ratings of daily abilities (attention, executive functioning, and adaptive functioning), but not objective performance on the measure of sustained attention, verbal memory, or visual memory. The VSVT has potential to be used in neuropsychological assessments with pediatric patients.

The influence of job satisfaction, burnout, pain, and worker's compensation status on disability after finger injuries.

PURPOSE: Motivation, job satisfaction, burnout, and secondary gain are factors that can influence return to work and disability after orthopedic injuries. The current study evaluated the separate effects of job satisfaction, burnout, and secondary gain on arm-specific disability after a finger injury. METHODS: Ninety-three employed patients with finger injuries were enrolled in this prospective study, and 51 completed the follow-up. Burnout (measured with Shirom-Melamed's Burnout Measure), job satisfaction (measured with the Job Descriptive Index questionnaire), and demographics were assessed at the initial visit. After 6 months, arm-specific disability was measured with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, and general health status was measured with the Short Form-36 (SF-36) survey, mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS). RESULTS: In the 51 patients with complete follow-up, the mean DASH score was 12, the mean SF-36 PCS was 48, the mean SF-36 MCS was 49, and the mean pain rating was 2.1. In multivariable analysis, pain and worker's compensation status explained 52% of the variability in DASH scores (pain alone accounted for 49%); pain accounted for 14% of the variability in SF-36 PCS scores; and worker's compensation accounted for 11% of the variation in the SF-36 MCS scores. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of variation in the SF-36 PCS and MCS scores remained unaccounted for by the models, but pain and worker's compensation were more important than job burnout or job satisfaction. Pain and worker's compensation were also significant predictors of the DASH. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Worker's compensation and pain were more important than job satisfaction and burnout in explaining variations in arm-specific disability in patients with finger injuries.

The relationship between performances on neuropsychological symptom validity testing and the MCMI-III in patients with fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that frequently presents with both cognitive complaints and psychiatric symptoms. This study investigated the association between Symptom Validity Test (SVT) performance and psychiatric symptoms as measured by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III), a common measure of psychopathology. A total of 72 fibromyalgia patients at a tertiary care clinic completed the MCMI-III, an embedded cognitive symptom validity test (Reliable Digit Span), and a stand-alone cognitive symptom validity test (the Word Memory Test or Test of Memory Malingering). Of these patients, 21% failed a stand-alone SVT, whereas an additional 15% failed both a stand-alone and embedded SVT. Individuals who failed both stand-alone and embedded cognitive SVTs had higher scores on a number of MCMI-III personality subscales and had elevated scores on MCMI-III modifying indices compared to individuals who passed cognitive SVTs. Moreover, SVT performance was significantly correlated with multiple MCMI-III scores, including modifying indices, as well as the somatoform, depression, and anxiety subscales. In sum, cognitive and psychological symptom validity scores were significantly related. Given the new emphasis on cognitive complaints as part of the fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria, neuropsychological evaluation of both cognitive and psychological symptom validity should be a part of a comprehensive diagnostic assessment.

Calabash pregnancy: a malingering response to infertility complicated by domestic violence / Embarazo de calabaza: una respuesta de fingimiento a la infertilidad complicada con violencia doméstica

This is a case report of a 20-year old para 0+0 who presented with an 11-month pregnancy. On evaluation, the pregnancy was found to be a fake made-up 'calabash pregnancy There were no pregnancy symptoms and she had just menstruated three weeks prior to presentation. This was a deliberate event in response to delayed pregnancy attainment complicated by domestic violence. Domestic violence was in the form of verbal and physical abuse and later was on a monthly basis precipitated by onset of her menstrual flow. The patient's age, monogamous union and the fact that she is an orphan made her vulnerable to domestic violence.

Éste es un reporte de caso de una para 0 + 0 de 20 anos de edad, que se presentó con un embarazo de 11 meses. En la evaluación, se encontró que se trataba de un embarazo de calabaza, es decir, inventado, fingido. En realidad, no había ningún síntoma de embarazo, y había tenido la menstruación tres semanas antes de presentarse. Se trataba de un acontecimiento deliberadamente construido, en respuesta a una largamente demorada expectativa de lograr un embarazo, complicada con violencia doméstica. La violencia doméstica seproducía enforma de abuso verbalyfísico, precipitándose luego mensualmente con la aparición de cadaflujo menstrual. La edad de los pacientes, la unión monógama, y el hecho de que era huérfana, la hacía vulnerable a la violencia doméstica.

The use of all three Test of Memory Malingering trials in establishing the level of effort.

Assessment of the effort level is an essential step in establishing the internal validity of any neuropsychological evaluation. The use of response bias measures as part of a core battery, however, is less common outside of forensic evaluations. The amount of time needed to administer many of these tests is often cited as a likely explanation for their exclusion from routine neuropsychological evaluations. This study examined all three trials of the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) in a large sample (n = 213) of inpatients on an epilepsy monitoring unit with the goal of establishing cut scores for early termination. TOMM Trial 1 demonstrated impressive diagnostic accuracy for determining both adequate and suboptimal levels of effort; various cut scores and classification statistics are presented. The optional Retention trial from the TOMM also increased the hit rate 16% in the detection of poor effort. Clinical implications, limitations, and directions for further research are discussed.

Use of Trial 1 of the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) as a screening measure of effort: suggested discontinuation rules.

Trial 1 of the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) has been suggested as a screening tool, with several possible cut-off scores proposed. The purpose of the present study was to replicate the utility of previously suggested cut-off scores and to characterize neuropsychological profiles of persons who "pass" the TOMM but obtain Trial 1 scores < 45 and of persons with cognitive disorders. A total of 229 veterans were administered the TOMM as part of a neuropsychological evaluation. Trial 1 scores ≥ 41 and ≤ 25 showed good utility as discontinuation scores for adequate and poor effort, respectively, beyond which administration of additional trials were unnecessary. Findings suggest better Trial 1 performance is significantly related to better speeded mental flexibility and memory.