title: Factors differentiating successful versus unsuccessful malingerers.
abstract: Relatively little is known about the processes in which "successful" malingerers engage to avoid detection. This study summarizes the response strategies used by participants (N = 540) instructed to feign a specific mental disorder while completing various self-report instruments designed to detect faking. Postexperiment questionnaires indicated that those who were able to appear symptomatic while avoiding being detected as feigning (n = 60) were more likely to endorse a lower rate of legitimate symptoms, to avoid overly unusual or bizarre items, and to base their responses on their own personal experiences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341-2447, USA. psy_jfe@shsu.edu
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Edens
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Buffington
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tomicic
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Poythress
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis