Distinguishing Genuine from Malingered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Head Injury Litigation

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Controversies, Diagnosis, and Malingering

“…Howe ( 2012 ) pointed out that there is not only pure malingering but also partial malingering and falsely attributing real symptoms to events not related to the events at claim (Resnick 1997 ). Malingering might take the form of denying functional abilities rather than fabricating symptoms.…”

“…The recent work on malingered PTSD that I have reviewed (Andrikopoulos and Greiffenstein 2012 ;Howe 2012 ;Lareau 2011 ;Rosen and Grunert 2012 ) has provided complementary perspectives on its controversies, which are numerous. The diagnosis of PTSD is given with an entry criterion that imparts causality to an external event, so that it represents a growth industry in court.…”

“…The MENT appears to be a useful adjunct for malingering detection. In conclusion, in PTSD determinations, Howe ( 2012 ) supported the use of a personality measure, such as the MMPI-2, a PTSD measure having validity measures, such as the DAPS, and other tests, such as the SIRS and the MENT.…”

“…Howe (2012) . For Howe ( 2012 ), the SIMS (Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomology; Widows and Smith 2005 ) should be used cautiously in forensic settings. Its utility as a screen is unknown.…”

“…, and Howe ( 2012 )]. However, for my review of the assessment portions of these four sources, because of their different conclusions about testing, I do not use themes that cut across the sources.…”