title: Malingering or expected deficits? A case of herpes simplex encephalitis.
abstract: This study describes a patient with herpes simplex encephalitis. Brain MRI showed the expected finding of medial temporal damage. Neuropsychological assessment results were consistent with the location of damage, with profound memory impairment and mildly impaired naming, but normal visuospatial and executive skills. The patient also showed a typical testing pattern of insufficient effort and possible malingering, which was concerning as she was seeking disability compensation. In spite of this, we chose to place greatest weight on the finding of deficits consistent with the type, location, and severity of brain damage, considering this to be true cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, USA. byochim@uccs.edu
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Yochim
authors.forename: Katherine D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Sheena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horning
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pepin
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008306:Malingering; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests