Comparing Student and Patient Simulated Malingerers Performance on Standard Neuropsychological Measures to Detect Feigned Cognitive Deficits

Abstract

Despite the proliferation of studies investigating methods for detecting malingering, important questions that remain unanswered. Specifically, many studies use students to simulate malingering; however, it is unclear whether this is an appropriate analog group. In addition, many studies have focused on the development of cognitive measures designed to detect malingering, rather than pursuing whether current neuropsychological measures are effective. Results of the present investigation suggest that student malingerers are significantly more difficult to detect than non-neurological patients instructed to malinger. The findings also provide further support for the recent evidence that standard neuropsychological measures are useful in detecting malingering.