The Detection of Neuropsychological Malingering
THE DETECTION OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL MALINGERING Christine D. Liff, B.A., M.S. Dissertation Prepared for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS August 2003 APPROVED: Craig Neumann, Acting Chair Ernest Harrell, Chair, Major Professor, and Chair of the Department of Psychology Kenneth Sewell, Committee Member and Director of Clinical Training James Quinn, Committee Member C. Neal Tate, Dean of the Robert B. Toulouse School of Graduate Studies Liff, Christine D., The Detection of Neuropsychological Malingering. Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology), August 2003, 163 pp., 24 tables, 25 figures, references, 112 titles. The present study compared the responses of a group of simulating malingerers who were offered a monetary incentive to feign symptoms of a head injury, with the responses of head injured groups both with and without litigation, a forensic parole group, and an honest- responding control group. The following six neuropsychological measures were utilized: Rey 15-Item Memory Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Finger Oscillation Test, WAIS-R Neuropsychological Instrument (Vocabulary, Information, and Similarities subtests), Booklet Category Test, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. The statistical concepts of floor effect, performance curve, and magnitude of error were examined. Additionally, the statistical differences in the responses of the five groups were analyzed to determine cutting scores for use in distinguishing malingerers from nonmalingerers. Copyright 2003 by Christine D. Liff ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To my grandmother, Elayne, who fostered my sense of adventure and passion for life. If only you could be here to share this with me. To my parents, Leilani and George, who believed in hard work and allowed me autonomy and independence.
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