Running head: MALINGERING PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

Malingering is defined as the intentional production of false or grossly exaggerated physical or psychological symptoms in order to gain some external incentive (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). In this paper, the focus is on malingering psychological symptoms only. While malingering is not recognized as a mental illness in the DSM-IV-TR, it is something that warrants clinical attention and is of growing concern, due to its possible negative consequences, including misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment with adverse side effects. Malingering is best detected using any combination of the following: clinical interview and observation, screening measures (e.g., M-Test, SIMS, ADI, M-FAST), and/or more comprehensive measures available for the assessment of malingering (e.g., PAI, MMPI-2, SIRS). There are various models and motives that have been used to explain malingering behavior, but the general consensus is that there is no simple way to explain what type of individual is more likely to malinger and why. Because malingering is not a mental illness, clinical treatment is more likely to entail management and prevention of malingering, as opposed to providing treatment specifically designed for such behaviors. There are many ethical and professional issues that also must be addressed when considering a diagnosis of malingering, such as the possibility of misdiagnosis or stigma. There has been a recent influx of research regarding the assessment and measurement of malingering, but there is much research still needed, especially in areas such as accurate prevalence rates and cultural considerations. MALINGERING PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT 3 CHAPTER