What a tangled web we weave: Discriminating between malingering and anosmia

Two groups of normosmic subjects were instructed to feign a total olfactory loss when tested with the Olfactory Confusion Matrix (OCM). One of the gro ups was given specific instructions as to the number of odorants and trials in the test, as well as the number of items that might be expected to be c orrectly identified by chance. The responses of both groups of malingerers were compared with responses gathered from a group of anosmic patients. The groups did not differ in terms of performance level (percent correct). In spite of the similarity in terms of accuracy level, an analysis of the patt ern of OCM responses to an irritant allowed the anosmic patients to be dist inguished from subjects attempting to feign a loss. Subjects were given exp licit details about the test performed at the same level as those simply to ld to feign a loss. These results suggest that the OCM is an effective tool in separating malingering from anosmia.