Comment: Warning Malingerers Produces More Sophisticated Malingering

Abstract

Warning persons that attempts to malinger on neuropsychological testing will be detected is not an effective way of reducing malingering behavior. Rather, the literature on coaching consistently shows that malingerers who are warned of the presence of symptom validity assessment techniques are able to feign deficits in a less exaggerated and more believable fashion and therefore elude detection. Warning persons about the presence of these techniques reduces the validity and scientific quality of forensic evaluations. Rather than warning persons that they will be caught if they try to malinger, we recommend that persons be told to do their best and that forensic examiners encourage maximum effort, consistent with accepted testing practices and test manual instructions.