THE MALINGERING OF MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS AND MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

In this investigation, neuropsychological testing was conducted with 6 9 college students that were instructed to malinger either multiple sc lerosis (MS) or traumatic brain injury (TIB) or were non-malingering c ontrols. The two malingering soups were divided into informed and non- informed groups. The informed groups received information concerning t heir respective condition, and the non-informed groups were asked simp ly to malinger. Generally, all malingering groups performed considerab ly below the levels of non-malingering controls on measures of attenti on, learning and memory, word fluency, abstract reasoning, visuoconstr uction and manual dexterity. There appeared to be no difference in the manner in which subjects attempted to malinger MS as opposed to TBI. However, the severity of the portrayed deficit suggested by the test s cores was disproportionate to the severity of the injury being request ed. The pattern of deficit presented was quite global, with well below average performance demonstrated by all malingering groups across all domains.