title: The efficacy of neuropsychological symptom inventory in the differential diagnosis of medical, psychiatric, and malingering patients.
abstract: The present study was conducted to examine patient responses to the Neuropsychological Symptom Inventory (NSI) and attempted to discriminate among medical, psychiatric, and simulated malingering patients. Results indicated that the NSI was able to significantly discriminate malingered responses from medical and psychiatric patient responses. However, applying a lie scale derived from previous research with the NSI did not allow discrimination between the malingered group and the psychiatric patients. Using the factors of the NSI derived from earlier research offered both greater detection of malingerers and enhanced evaluation of symptom profiles of medical and psychiatric patients. The NSI provides an efficient screen for exaggerated symptoms, as well as an indication of the level of general neuropsychological functioning of the patient when included in a neuropsychological evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuropsychological Services, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Gelder
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Titus
authors.forename: Raymond S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Dean
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index