Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Lisa Scharff

Abstract

AbstractThe importance of using scientifically grounded strategies to detect malingering has been established in the literature and past research. Many reliable tools have been established for the detection of malingered neurocognition; however, research on how pain may affect these tools is sparse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pain on cognitive symptom validity testing and to establish the validity of the Word Memory Test (WMT), a cognitive symptom validity test with good sensitivity and specificity, when the test taker is feigning pain (simulating) or remembering pain. The biopsychosocial model and the gate theory of pain were used as a background in this study. In this experimental design, 60 participants were randomly assigned to a group that remembered pain while taking the WMT honestly and a simulated pain group who were instructed to fake pain and cognitive symptoms related to pain. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the mean WMT scores for both short-term and long-term memory subscales between the two groups. The simulated pain group had significantly lower scores than the remembered group on all the scales of the WMT. Based on these results, it was concluded that remembered pain did not significantly affect performance on the WMT, and that the WMT is a valid test when administered to a client in pain. Further study is recommended using pain induction instead of remembered pain. The findings of this study can encourage positive social change by validating the testing of individuals who are being assessed for malingering and thus validate their symptoms. Individuals and society will derive benefits from fair and comprehensive evaluations that include the WMT leading to positive social change.

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