Using symptom validity tests to detect malingered ADHD in college students

Lindsey J. Jasinski, Jordan P. Harp, David T.R. Berry, Anne L. Shandera-Ochsner, Lisa H. Mason, John D. Ranseen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recently there has been growing concern that college students may feign symptoms of ADHD in order to obtain academic accommodations and stimulant medication. Unfortunately research has only begun to validate detection tools for malingered ADHD. The present study cross-validated the results of Sollman, Ranseen, and Berry (2010) on the efficacy of several symptom validity tests for detection of simulated ADHD among college students. Undergraduates with a history of diagnosed ADHD were randomly assigned either to respond honestly or exaggerate symptoms, and were compared to undergraduates with no history of ADHD or other psychiatric disorders who were also randomly assigned to respond honestly or feign symptoms of ADHD. Similar to Sollman etal. (2010) and other recent research on feigned ADHD, several symptom validity tests, including the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM), Letter Memory Test (LMT), Digit Memory Test (DMT), Nonverbal Medical Symptom Validity Test (NV-MSVT), and the b Test were reasonably successful at discriminating feigned and genuine ADHD. When considered as a group, the criterion of failure of 2 or more of these SVTs had a sensitivity of. 475 and a specificity of 1.00.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1415-1428
Number of pages14
JournalClinical Neuropsychologist
Volume25
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2011

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported in part by a dissertation research grant from the American Psychological Association to Lindsey J. Jasinski, which is gratefully acknowledged. This paper is based on a dissertation submitted by Lindsey J. Jasinski in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of Kentucky. The paper is also based on a master’s thesis submitted by Jordan P. Harp in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master’s degree in clinical psychology at the University of Kentucky.

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • Malingering
  • SVT
  • Symptom validity test

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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