Determination of Malingering in Disability Evaluations

Author(s)

Roger Z. Samuel
Wiley Mittenberg, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2005

Publication Title

Primary Psychiatry

Volume

12

Issue/Number

1

First Page

60

Last Page

68

Abstract/Excerpt

Malingering in disability claimants is the act of conscious, gross exaggeration of symptoms or impairment to obtain or maintain disability income. Malingering can be a complex issue for the inexperienced practitioner. A systematic examination of the provenance of the claim using as many sources of information as possible is necessary to make a determination about the presence of malingering to a reasonable degree of medical certainty. A multifaceted examination of the factors discussed in this article, without dependence on any one of them, provides a practical framework in which to make decisions. Circumstances of the claim, claimants’ symptoms, and behavior in and out of the interview situation, need to be investigated in detail to elucidate the presence or absence of malingering. Psychologic tests are useful adjunctive measures that can help determine malingering.

NSUWorks Citation

Samuel, R. Z., Mittenberg, W. (2005). Determination of Malingering in Disability Evaluations. Primary Psychiatry, 12(1), 60-68.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/836