Detecting feigned high impact experiences: A symptom over-report questionnaire outperforms the emotional Stroop task

Irena Boskovic*, Lorraine Hope, James Ost, Robin Orthey, Harald Merckelbach

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Modified Stroop Task (MST) effect refers to a prolonged reaction time (RT) in color-naming words related to an individual's disorder. Some authors argue that its absence in people who claim symptoms might be an indication of feigning.

METHOD: We tested whether the MST effect is robust against feigning attempts and compared its absence as an index of feigning with over-reporting tendencies on a symptom questionnaire (i.e., the Self-Reported Symptom Inventory (SRSI)). We included participants (n = 22) who i) reported current high impact of aversive experiences (High scorers), ii) reported current low impact (Low scorers) of aversive experiences (n = 24), and iii) actors (n = 18) with low impact, but instructed to feign current high psychological impact of aversive life events (Simulators). We administered the MST, including impact-related, neutral, and feigning-related words, and the SRSI.

RESULTS: We found no MST effect for impact-related words in the high scorers group, or for feigning-related words in the simulators. Relative to high scorers and low scorers, simulators exhibited significantly longer RTs on all types of words and they also endorsed significantly more bogus symptoms on the SRSI. Thus, the SRSI was a more sensitive measure of feigning than the absence of an MST effect.

LIMITATION: Some limitations are related to our reliance on a sub-clinical student sample, whereas others reflect the unresolved issues surrounding the MST. Thus, the generalizability of our results is uncertain.

CONCLUSION: Our findings add to the doubts on the idea that the MST can be used to differentiate between genuine and feigned complaints.

Original languageEnglish
Article number101483
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
Volume65
Early online date16 May 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Keywords

  • ATTENTION
  • DISORDER
  • FANTASY PRONENESS
  • Feigning
  • INFORMATION
  • INTERFERENCE
  • INVENTORY
  • Modified stroop task
  • PTSD
  • SCALE
  • SEVERITY
  • SRSI
  • Simulators
  • TRAUMA

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