Debunking Claims of Exaggeration and Malingering

• Author: Dorothy Clay Sims
• Pages: 273-336

7-1

Chapter 7

Debunking Claims of

Exaggeration and Malingering

I. INTRODUCTION

§7:01 Proving Malingering: “Monsters Be Gone”

§7:02 Use Deposition to Learn Games DME Is Playing

§7:03 What Does the U.S. Government Say About Malingering Tests?

§7:03.1 U.S. Department of the Army

§7:03.2 U.S. Social Security Administration

§7:04 Bottom Line re: Malingering Tests

II. PSYCHOLOGICAL MALINGERING “TESTS”

A. Three Basic Types

§7:05 Effort Tests

§7:06 Pain Scales

§7:07 Symptom Selection

B. Specific Psychological Malingering “Tests”

§7:08 MMPI-2

§7:08.1 VRIN Scale

§7:08.2 TRIN Scale

§7:08.3 F Scale

§7:08.4 Fp Scale

§7:08.5 L Scale

§7:08.6 K Scale

§7:08.7 Fb-Scale

§7:08.8 Fake Bad Scale

§7:08.9 Scale 8

§7:09 Modified Somatic Pain Questionnaire

§7:10 Portland Digit Recognition Test

§7:11 Rey’s 15-Item Test

§7:12 Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM)

§7:13 Victoria Symptom Validity Test

§7:14 Word Memory Test

§7:15 Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS)

§7:16 Validity Indicator Profile (VIP)

§7:17 Medical Symptom Validity Test

[§§7:18-7:24 Reserved]

C. Why Malingering Tests Are Useless

§7:25 Not Scientific Tests

§7:26 Bias of Test Creator/Administrator

§7:27 Based on Speculation and Conjecture

§7:28 Checklist: More Problems With Malingering Test

[§7:29 Reserved]

D. Why Honest People Flunk Malingering Tests

§7:30 Depression

§7:31 Stress of Evaluation

§7:32 Brain Injuries

§7:33 Pain

§7:34 Medications

§7:35 Interference by Doctor

DISCOVERY COLLECTION 7-2

§7:36 Test Environment/Protocol Unfair to Certain Individuals

§7:37 Not Included in Normative Sample

§7:38 Certain Elevations in Some “Malingering” Scales May Be Reflective of Causes Other Than Malingering

§7:39 Malingering Tests Are Inherently Flawed in Their Inability to Rule Out the Underlying Condition

E. Games DMEs Play

§7:40 Games During Test

§7:40.1 Gives Clues or, Worse, Provides Answers

§7:40.2 Skips Questions on the Test

§7:40.3 Manipulates Timing of Test

§7:40.4 Gives Test Too Many (or Too Few) Times

§7:40.5 Tests Differently Depending on Whether Case Is Referred By Plaintiff’s or Defense Attorney

§7:40.6 Interferes With Testing

§7:40.7 Uses Old Tests

§7:40.8 Gives Only Part of the Test

§7:40.9 Gives Multiple Tests Instead of Well-Validated Test Battery

§7:40.10 Fails to Use Standardized Batteries

§7:40.11 Does Not Administer Malingering Tests at All

§7:41 Scoring the Tests

§7:41.1 Gives Malingering Test, But Does Not Score It or Scores Only a Portion of It

§7:41.2 Scores Test Incorrectly

§7:41.3 Does Not Have Tests Computer-Scored

§7:41.4 Erases Answers or Supplies Answers

§7:41.5 Gives “Test” With No Formal Scoring Manual (Not Really a Test at All)

§7:42 Reporting and Interpreting Test Results

§7:42.1 Claims Malingering Based on Test That Is Not a Malingering Test

§7:42.2 Lies About Test Purpose

§7:42.3 Using Wrong Tests

§7:42.4 Claims Plaintiff Flunked When Scoring Manual Says She Passed

§7:42.5 Selectively Reports Test Results

§7:42.6 Concludes Malingering Even When Plaintiff Passed Most (or Even All) Malingering Tests

§7:42.7 Fails to Provide Actual Percentages, But Refers to “Z” Scores or “T” Scores

§7:42.8 Claims Pain Scales Are Actually Malingering Scales

§7:42.9 Claims “Borderline Flunking” or “Borderline Passing”

§7:42.10 Ignores the “Retest” Effect

§7:42.11 Ignores Treating Physician’s Diagnosis, Record of Treatment—Confirmatory Bias

§7:42.12 Claims Normal I.Q. Means No Brain Damage or Psychiatric Diagnosis

§7:42.13 Claims Normal Scales on Memory Tests Mean No Brain Injury or Psychiatric Problems

[§§7:43-7:49 Reserved]

III. PHYSICAL MALINGERING TEST: WADDELL SIGNS

§7:50 What Are Waddell Signs?

§7:51 Challenging Waddell Signs

[§§7:52-7:54 Reserved]

IV. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

§7:55 Lying to Patient

§7:56 Calling Treating Doctor to Testify

§7:57 Why Claims of Malingering Are Too Prejudicial to Be Admissible

[§§7:58-7:59 Reserved]

V. SAMPLE QUESTIONS

§7:60 Questions re: Malingering Scales Are Unscientific

§7:61 Questions re: Motive to Lie

§7:62 Questions re: Pain Scales

§7:63 Questions re: Effort Tests

§7:64 Questions re: Selective Reporting of Tests and Scores

§7:65 Questions to Turn the Tables on the DME re: Accusations of Lying

§7:66 Questions for Trial Cross-Examination

§7:66.1 Questions re: Scales and Scores DME Misrepresented

§7:66.2 Questions re: “Borderline” Malingering

APPENDIX

Appendix 7-A: SSA Refuses to Pay for Malingering Tests

FORMS

Form 7-1: Motion to Determine Admissibility of Expert Testimony

Form 7-2: Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion in Limine re Fake Bad Scale

7-3 DEBUNKING CLAIMS OF EXAGGERATION AND MALINGERING

Form 7-3: Order on Plaintiff’s Frye Motion re MMPI-2 FBS—Sample 1

Form 7-4: Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike Expert’s Testimony re FBS—Sample 2

Form 7-5: Order on Plaintiff’s Frye Motion on MMPI-2 “Fake Bad Scale”—Sample 3

Form 7-6: Order Following Frye Hearing re FBS—Sample 4 [Transcript format; portions redacted]

Form 7-7: Transcript of Proceedings (Ruling on Frye Hearing)

Form 7-8: Order Granting Plaintiff’s Amended Motion to Strike and/or Motion in Limine Regarding Defense CME

Psychologist _________