The relationship between the modified somatic perception questionnaire and dynamic platform posturography.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze if patients whose vestibular symptoms are associated with nonorganic sway patterns show more evidence of somatization and/or malingering than patients whose vestibular symptoms are associated with normal or physiologically abnormal sway patterns observed in people with documented vestibular pathologic findings.


METHODS
One hundred fifteen patients with complaints of vestibular dysfunction and hearing impairment.


METHODS
Computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) and completion of the Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire (MSPQ)--a validated test for the detection of malingering.


METHODS
Computerized dynamic posturography results classified into 4 categories (normal, physiologic abnormal, borderline-aphysiologic, and aphysiologic) were correlated with the results of the MSPQ.


RESULTS
A significant CDP group effect on the MSPQ, with the aphysiologic patients scoring significantly higher than the other groups. Moreover, a significantly higher proportion of aphysiologic patients scored more than the MSPQ cutoffs for malingering.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that patients who have aphysiologic CDP sway patterns are more likely to have higher MSPQ scores. Both aphysiologic CDP results and high MSPQ scores have been associated with intentional exaggeration. These results indicate that patients with both aphysiologic CDP findings and high MSPQ scores are more likely to be intentionally exaggerating their balance-related complaints and deficits.
Brasseux
Raven
R
Department of Psychology and The Jefferson Neurobehavioral Group, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, USA.
Greve
Kevin W
KW
Gianoli
Gerard J
GJ
Soileau
James S
JS
Bianchini
Kevin J
KJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011187:Posture; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*