Diagnostic accuracy of the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS) in detecting instructed malingering

Abstract

This article addresses the psychometric properties of the Dutch translation of the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS) when administered to undergraduate psychology students as well as psychiatric inpatients. Findings show that this SIMS version possesses good test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Also, simulation findings indicate that undergraduate students instructed to simulate pathology display higher SIMS scores than either normal controls or psychiatric inpatients. Data pooled over several samples (n=298) yielded sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive power (PPP) rates that were all relatively high (>/=0.90). All in all, our findings provide a basis for cautious optimism regarding the usefulness of the SIMS as a screening tool for malingering.