Using Multiple Objective Memory Procedures to Detect Simulated Malingering

Abstract

The present study evaluated five objective assessment procedures used to detect malingered memory deficits. Twenty students and 20 psychiatric subjects completed the procedures under instructions to malinger and/or try their best. These groups were compared to 20 memory-impaired subjects who completed the procedures under instructions to try their best. While each test was able to correctly classify all of the subjects performing their best and the actual memory-impaired patients, the correct classification rates for experimental-malingerers varied from 5%–85% on the 10 scores derived from the five tests. Combining all of the cutting scores, and using deficient performance on one procedure as the criteria for classification, resulted in a 92.5% hit rate for subjects who were instructed to malinger and a 100% hit rate for the control and memory-impaired subjects who were instructed to try their best.