Adapting Symptom Validity Testing to Evaluate Suspicious Complaints of Amnesia in Medicolegal Evaluations

Abstract

Symptom validity testing was adapted to assess suspicious complaints of amnesia. In the adaptation, two-alternative, forced-choice memory questions were generated for subject matter claimed to be forgotten. The number of questions correctly answered was then compared to the expected number of questions to be correctly answered if no knowledge actually existed. Three case studies are presented, two of competency-to-stand-trial evaluees and one of an insurance medical examinee. In each case, the use of this procedure generated the conclusion that the knowledge claimed to be forgotten was actually remembered; however, not all individuals were classified as malingerers.