Validation of the structured inventory of malingered symptomatology in Czech healthy elderly volunteers - Simulation study

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11110%2F25%3A10502046" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11110/25:10502046 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1024/1016-264X/a000423" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1024/1016-264X/a000423</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1024/1016-264X/a000423" target="_blank" >10.1024/1016-264X/a000423</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Validation of the structured inventory of malingered symptomatology in Czech healthy elderly volunteers - Simulation study

Original language description

1. Aims: The aim of the study was the validation of the Czech version of SIMS in sample of healthy elderly volunteers. We focused on the validation of two specific SIMS subscales - Amnestic disorder (AM) and Neurological impairment (NI). 2. Method: From the total sample of 196 participants, 137 respondents were included in the final analysis, ensuring that the research groups did not differ in terms of socio-demographic characteristics. The SIMS method was completed under two different conditions: the simulation group consisted of 63 respondents, while the group of honest respondents consisted of 74 respondents. The mean age of the participants was 67.5 years (SD = 8.41 years). The group of honest respondents completed SIMS truthfully, while the simulation group was asked to feign amnestic disorder and neurological impairment according to a predetermined scenario. 3. Results:A statistical analysis revealed that the research groups significantly differed on all SIMS scales, including AM scale and NI scale. The simulation group demonstrated significantly higher SIMS total scores (Med = 42, SD = 9.64) compared to the honest respondent group (Med = 5, SD = 3.13), U = 0.00, p = .001. Furthermore, the simulation group demonstrated significantly higher scores on the AM scale (Med = 12, SD = 3.15) in comparison to the honest respondents (Med = 0, SD = 0.87), U = 16, p = . 001, and on the NI scale (Med = 10, SD = 2.69) than the honest respondents (Med = 0, SD = 0.97), U = 4, p = .001. 4. Discussion: In the context of the present study, it was hypothesized that the simulation group would demonstrate elevated scores exclusively on the AM and NI scales. The high scores observed on the AF scale may be explained by the presentation of a scenario simulating difficulties anticipated because of a car accident. Additionally, participants may have associated affective difficulties with the experience of a traumatic event. The findings suggest other SIMS subscales also respond to simulated memory impairment and neurological symptoms. Although the simulation group scores for all subscales are higher than the method author&apos;s proposed cut-off scores, the results show predominantly elevated scores for the AM and NI subscales. For that reason, a qualitative assessment of the profile of SIMS scores across subscales may be useful. 5. Conclusions: The results of the validation study indicate that the SIMS total score should be used as a general parameter to assess the suspected presence of a simulated memory impairment or neurological symptoms in the elderly. The profile of scores within each SIMS scale is useful for qualitative assessment of outcomes.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

O - Miscellaneous

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

30300 - Health sciences

Project

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Continuities

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů