title: Waddell non-organic signs: new evidence suggests somatic amplification among outpatient chronic pain patients.
abstract: Waddell et al. identified a set of eight non-organic signs in 1980. There has been controversy about their meaning, particularly with respect to their use as validity indicators.
  
  
  
  The current study examined the Waddell signs in relation to measures of somatic amplification or over-reporting in a sample of outpatient chronic pain patients. We examined the degree to which these signs were associated with measures of over-reporting.
  
  
  
  This study examined scores on the Waddell signs in relation to over-reporting indicators in an outpatient chronic pain sample.
  
  
  
  We examined 230 chronic pain patients treated at a multidisciplinary pain clinic. The majority of these patients presented with primary back or spinal injuries.
  
  
  
  The outcome measures used in the study were Waddell signs, Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire, Pain Disability Index, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form.
  
  
  
  We examined Waddell signs using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and analysis of variance (ANOVA), receiver operating characteristic analysis, classification accuracy, and relative risk ratios.
  
  
  
  Multivariate analysis of variance and ANOVA showed a significant association between Waddell signs and somatic amplification. Classification analyses showed increased odds of somatic amplification at a Waddell score of 2 or 3.
  
  
  
  Our results found significant evidence of an association between Waddell signs and somatic over-reporting. Elevated scores on the Waddell signs (particularly scores higher than 2 and 3) were associated with increased odds of exhibiting somatic over-reporting.
authors: Department of Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Ave, Richmond, KY 40475, USA. Electronic address: dustin.wygant@eku.edu.
authors: Dustin B
authors: DB
authors: Wygant
authors: Minneapolis VA Health Care Center, University of Minnesota, F282/2A West Building, 2450 Riverside Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA.
authors: Paul A
authors: PA
authors: Arbisi
authors: Jefferson Neurobehavioral Group, 2901 N. I-10 Service Road E., Suite 300, Metairie, LA 70002, USA.
authors: Kevin J
authors: KJ
authors: Bianchini
authors: Interventional Pain Specialists, 165 Natchez Trace Ave., Bowling Green, KY 42103, USA.
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Umlauf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D018710:Pain Clinics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards
keywords: MMPI-2-RF; Non-organic signs; Response bias; Somatic exaggeration; Somatic feigning; Somatic malingering; Waddell signs