Clinical characteristics of malingering among arrested and convicted male cases that are sent for treatment

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the predictive variables of malingering among arrested/convicted cases as well as the clinical characteristics of malingerers. Method: This study includes 70 arrested /convicted male cases internalized for treatment. A form to collect clinical or sociodemographic data, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders (SCID I), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID II), Symptom Check-list (SCL-90-R), and Rey Memory Test (RMT) are applied. Two independent psychiatrists, who were not a part of the study, diagnosed malingering. Results: Arrested cases reported mostly psychotic like symptoms, while convicted cases reported mostly depression like symptoms. RMT is helpful in regards to malingering, and SCL-90-R psychotic symptom and paranoid symptom subscale scores were both correlated negatively when compared to the RMT scores by malingerers. Axis-I or Axis-II diagnosis were found to be more predictive than other clinical variables in determining malingering. Conclusion: This study indicates that clinicians have to consider malingering in regards to arrested and convicted cases applied for treatment, and they must perform the differential diagnosis with care. Large sample studies conducted with arrested and convicted cases, as well as surveys of grouping cases according to expertise and treatment services, may provide additional data related to malingering.