Varying Cautionary Instructions, Monetary Incentives, and Comorbid Diagnostic Training in Malingered Psychopathology Research

Abstract

In this article, we combine two analogue experiments in which we empirically examined three malingering methodological issues in individuals trained and instructed to simulate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI; Briere, 1995). In Experiment 1, we examined TSI scale effects of the following manipulations using a 2 × 2 design with 330 college students: (a) inclusion or exclusion of cautionary instructions regarding believability of participants' simulation and (b) different financial incentive levels. In Experiment 2, we examined comorbid psychiatric diagnostic training with 180 college students who were either trained to simulate PTSD and comorbid major depressive disorder or trained to simulate only PTSD. Caution main effects were significant for all but two TSI Clinical Scales, incentive main effects and interactions were only significant for one Clinical scale each, and the comorbidity manipulation did not yield any scale differences. We discuss malingering research design implications regarding the use of cautionary instructions, financial incentive levels, and comorbid training.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was based on the master's theses of J. J. Butcher, A. N. Reeves, and S. N. Baugher and was funded by the Office of Research and Graduate Education, The University of South Dakota. Simulation training materials are available by request from J. D. Elhai.

Notes

¹We offered participants a choice in the case studies and malingering scenarios used for simulation, which could potentially result in an increased sense of responsibility and investment in simulation. Despite the potential advantage of increased motivation and use in previous studies, we acknowledge that concerns have been raised about this method's generalizability (Rogers, 1997b).

*p < .05.

**Tukey's honestly significant difference post hoc test indicated these two means were significantly different at p < .05.

²Both the 10-item PTSD and 4-item MDD quizzes are available for review to interested researchers. Please contact J. D. Elhai to obtain these materials.

*None significant at p < .01.