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Ribatti RM, Merten T, Lanciano T, Curci A. Psychometric validation of the Italian Self-Report Symptoms inventory (SRSI): Factor structure, construct validity, and diagnostic accuracy. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2024:1-16. [PMID: 39264233 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2024.2400681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
The Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SRSI) is a novel tool designed to detect symptom overreporting and other forms of noncredible responding. Unlike existing scales, the SRSI includes genuine and pseudosymptoms scales covering cognitive, affective, motor, pain, and post-traumatic stress disorder domains. The present study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the Italian Version of the SRSI (SRSI-It), in particular, its factor structure, reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and diagnostic accuracy. Data from 1180 healthy participants showed a hierarchical structure with higher-order constructs for genuine symptoms and pseudosymptoms, each comprising five subscales. The SRSI-It showed a strong convergent validity with the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology and discriminant validity through low correlations with the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised. Receiver operating characteristic analysis determined cut scores of 6 (95% specificity) and 9 (98% specificity) for pseudosymptoms, with a Ratio Index score of 0.289 (82% specificity). In summary, the SRSI-It appears to be a promising tool for identifying symptom exaggeration in clinical and forensic contexts, ultimately enhancing the quality and reliability of evaluations in these contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Maria Ribatti
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Thomas Merten
- Department of Neurology, Vivantes Klinikum im Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tiziana Lanciano
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonietta Curci
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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Aryal K, Merten T, Akehurst L, Boskovic I. The English-language version of the Self-Report Symptom Inventory: a pilot analogue study with feigned head injury sequelae. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2024; 31:1078-1082. [PMID: 35944507 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2109158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Questionnaire-based symptom validity tests (SVTs) are an indispensable diagnostic tool for evaluating the credibility of patients' claimed symptomatology, both in forensic and in clinical assessment contexts. In 2019, the comprehensive professional manual of a new SVT, the Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SRSI), was published in German. Its English-language version was first tested in the UK. This experimental analogue study investigated 20 adults simulating minor head injury symptoms and 21 honestly responding participants. The effect sizes of differences between the two groups were large, with the simulating group endorsing a higher number of pseudosymptoms, both on the SRSI and the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology, and scoring lower on the Reliable Digit Span than the control group. The results are similar to those obtained in previous research of different SRSI language versions, supporting the effort to validate the English-language SRSI version.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Aryal
- Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Thomas Merten
- Neurology, Vivantes Klinikum im Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lucy Akehurst
- Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Irena Boskovic
- Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Boskovic I, Akca AYE, Giromini L. Symptom coaching and symptom validity tests: An analog study using the structured inventory of malingered symptomatology, Self-Report Symptom Inventory, and Inventory of Problems-29. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2024; 31:626-638. [PMID: 35414324 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2057856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
In this pilot and exploratory study, we tested the robustness of three self-report symptom validity tests (SVTs) to symptom coaching for depression, with and without additional information available on the Internet. Specifically, we divided our sample (N = 193) so that each subject received either the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS; n = 64), the Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SRSI; n = 66), or the Inventory of Problems-29 (IOP-29; n = 63). Within each of the three subgroups, approximately one third of participants were instructed to respond honestly (Genuine Condition, nSIMS = 21; nSRSI = 24; nIOP-29 = 26) and approximately two-thirds were instructed to feign depression. One half of the feigners were presented with a vignette to increase their compliance with instructions and were given information about symptoms of depression (Coached Feigning, nSIMS = 25; nSRSI = 18; nIOP-29 = 21), and the other half were given the same vignette and information about symptoms of depression, plus two Internet links to review before completing the test (Internet-Coached Feigning, nSIMS = 18; nSRSI = 24; nIOP-29 = 16). Overall, the results showed that the genuine conditions yielded the lowest total scores on all three measures, while the two feigning conditions did not significantly differ from each other. Looking at the detection rates for all feigning participants, all three measures showed satisfactory results, with IOP-29 performing slightly better than SIMS and SIMS performing slightly better than SRSI. Internet-Coached Feigners scored slightly lower on all three measures than feigners who were coached without the Internet links. Taken together, the results of this preliminary and exploratory study suggest that all three SVTs examined are sensitive to feigned depression even in the presence of symptom coaching, both with and without additional Internet-based information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Boskovic
- Forensic Psychology Section, Clinical Psychology Department, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Forensic Psychology Section, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Yin D, Shen G. Aesthetic Effect of Autologous Fat Transplantation on Frontotemporal Depression Filling and Its Influence on SCL-90 and SES of Patients. Emerg Med Int 2022; 2022:3374780. [PMID: 36267141 PMCID: PMC9578896 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3374780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed to study the aesthetic effect of autologous fat transplantation in frontotemporal depression filling as well as the influence on the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES) score of patients. Methods A total of 100 patients with frontotemporal depression admitted to the outpatient department of burn and plastic surgery in our hospital were selected as the observation group, and all of them received autologous fat transplantation. The filling effect of patients in the observation group was discussed. Simultaneously, 50 volunteers were selected as the control group to compare the SCL-90 and SES scores of the observation group and the control group. Result ① A total of 100 patients with frontotemporal depression were treated with autologous fat transplantation, and the secondary autologous fat transplantation rate was 10%; two cases of fat absorption occurred during the 12-month follow-up after surgery; on the 7th day, 6 months, and 12 months after the operation, the satisfaction rate of the patients who visited the doctor was 96.00%, 97%, and 92.00%; the satisfaction rate of the plastic surgeon was 94.00%, 96%, and 90.00%; the satisfaction rate of the third party was 96.00%, 98%, and 92.00%. ② The preoperative scores of somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, terror, paranoia, and psychotic factor scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The scores of somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, terror, paranoia, and psychotic factor scores in the observation group at 6 months after the operation were lower than those before operation (P < 0.05). The preoperative SES score of the observation group (28.51 ± 9.81) was significantly lower than that of the control group (32.47 ± 5.39) (P < 0.05). The SES score (34.17 ± 9.81) in the observation group at 6 months after the operation was significantly higher than that before the operation (P < 0.05). Conclusion The aesthetic effect of autologous fat transplantation in frontotemporal depression filling is good and safe. Simultaneously, it can improve the mental health and self-esteem of patients and has high clinical value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjing Yin
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong 226000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guoliang Shen
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
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Merten T, Dandachi-FitzGerald B, Boskovic I, Puente-López E, Merckelbach H. The Self-Report Symptom Inventory. PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY & LAW 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12207-021-09434-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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Monaro M, Bertomeu CB, Zecchinato F, Fietta V, Sartori G, De Rosario Martínez H. The detection of malingering in whiplash-related injuries: a targeted literature review of the available strategies. Int J Legal Med 2021; 135:2017-2032. [PMID: 33829284 PMCID: PMC8354940 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02589-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present review is intended to provide an up-to-date overview of the strategies available to detect malingered symptoms following whiplash. Whiplash-associated disorders (WADs) represent the most common traffic injuries, having a major impact on economic and healthcare systems worldwide. Heterogeneous symptoms that may arise following whiplash injuries are difficult to objectify and are normally determined based on self-reported complaints. These elements, together with the litigation context, make fraudulent claims particularly likely. Crucially, at present, there is no clear evidence of the instruments available to detect malingered WADs. METHODS We conducted a targeted literature review of the methodologies adopted to detect malingered WADs. Relevant studies were identified via Medline (PubMed) and Scopus databases published up to September 2020. RESULTS Twenty-two methodologies are included in the review, grouped into biomechanical techniques, clinical tools applied to forensic settings, and cognitive-based lie detection techniques. Strengths and weaknesses of each methodology are presented, and future directions are discussed. CONCLUSIONS Despite the variety of techniques that have been developed to identify malingering in forensic contexts, the present work highlights the current lack of rigorous methodologies for the assessment of WADs that take into account both the heterogeneous nature of the syndrome and the possibility of malingering. We conclude that it is pivotal to promote awareness about the presence of malingering in whiplash cases and highlight the need for novel, high-quality research in this field, with the potential to contribute to the development of standardised procedures for the evaluation of WADs and the detection of malingering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merylin Monaro
- Department of General Psychology, Università degli Studi di Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy.
| | - Chema Baydal Bertomeu
- Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Ed. 9C. Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Francesca Zecchinato
- Department of General Psychology, Università degli Studi di Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Valentina Fietta
- Department of General Psychology, Università degli Studi di Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Sartori
- Department of General Psychology, Università degli Studi di Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Helios De Rosario Martínez
- Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Ed. 9C. Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales Y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Zaragoza, Spain
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Boskovic I, Merckelbach H, Merten T, Hope L, Jelicic M. The Self-Report Symptom Inventory as an Instrument for Detecting Symptom Over-Reporting. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. The recently developed Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SRSI) intends to provide an alternative approach to the detection of symptom over-reporting. Unlike other measures, the SRSI includes both non-existent symptoms (i.e., pseudosymptoms) and genuine symptoms. Previous research using the German SRSI showed that people who exaggerate their complaints over-endorse both types of symptoms. In the current simulation experiment, we tested whether the Dutch and English SRSI are effective in identifying over-reporting by comparing SRSI scores of an honest group ( n = 51) with those of two experimental simulator groups (pain, n = 54; anxiety, n = 53). The pain and anxiety simulators endorsed significantly more genuine symptoms and pseudosymptoms than honest participants (ηp2 = .50 and ηp2 = .30, respectively). Furthermore, pain and anxiety over-reporters specifically over-endorsed symptoms corresponding to their simulation instructions (Cohen’s ds > 0.77). Using the recommended cut-off score, the SRSI detected 48% of pain over-reporters and 73% of anxiety over-reporters, with areas under the curve (AUC) ranging from .88 to .91. These results indicate that the SRSI is a promising tool for identifying over-reporting, but further research with clinical samples is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Boskovic
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Forensic Psychology Section, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Science, Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, UK
| | - Harald Merckelbach
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Forensic Psychology Section, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Merten
- Department of Neurology, Vivantes Klinikum im Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lorraine Hope
- Faculty of Science, Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, UK
| | - Marko Jelicic
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Forensic Psychology Section, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
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Verifiability and Symptom Endorsement in Genuine, Exaggerated, and Malingered Pain. PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY & LAW 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12207-020-09375-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
AbstractThe current study has investigated whether pure malingering, in which reported symptoms are nonexistent, partial malingering, in which existent symptoms are exaggerated, and genuine symptoms could be differentiated by applying the verifiability approach (VA) and the Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SRSI). The logic behind the VA is that deceivers’ statements contain more non-verifiable information, whereas truth tellers’ accounts include more verifiable details. The SRSI taps into over-reporting by including a mix of genuine symptoms and implausible complaints (pseudosymptoms). We checked if participants (N = 167) allocated to one of three conditions (pure malingerers vs. exaggerators vs. truth tellers) can be differentiated in their pain symptom reports’ (non)verifiability and symptom endorsement. Findings revealed that deceptive reports were lengthier than truthful statements. However, this difference was not produced by a discrepancy in non-verifiable details, but rather by a higher production of verifiable information among malingerers and exaggerators. Thus, contrary to previous findings, our results indicate that pain reports rich in verifiable information should raise doubt about their veracity. Further, truth tellers endorsed less symptoms of the SRSI than exaggerators, but not than pure malingerers. Pure malingerers and exaggerators did not differ in symptom endorsement. Thus, our findings revealed that when compared with truth tellers, exaggerators exhibited stronger over-reporting tendencies than (pure) malingerers. However, due to inconsistent findings, further investigation of the efficacy of these methods in differentiation between exaggerated and malingered reports is required.
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