Assessment of Malingered Neuropsychological Deficits [Hardcover]

Glenn J. Larrabee (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195188462 | ISBN-13: 978-0195188462 | Publication Date: July 16, 2007 | Edition: 1

Written specifically for the clinical neuropsychologist who does forensic consultations, the book is a comprehensive review by experts of the procedures available to evaluate malingered neuropsychological deficits. It discusses tools for detecting atypical patterns of performance on standard clinical tests as well as malingering on measures of perception and sensorimotor function, of attention, processing speed, and memory, and of executive function. The underpinnings of the forensic neuropsychology enterprise are presented in chapters on definitions of malingering, research designs for its evaluation, data on the frequency with which malingering occurs, diagnostic classification statistics, symptom validity tests that do not depend on forced choice testing, and those that do. Guidance on assessing exaggerated psychiatric symptoms; exaggerated medical symptoms and injuries; and detecting malingering during the neurological exam is also included. Of particular note is a chapter devoted to the topic of coaching. The book closes with a review of the diagnostic criteria for malingering and looks to the future with evidence-based proposals for improving the criteria.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Given the explosion of civil litigation and applications for Social Security disability, there is a need for cutting-edge information to guide those conducting these very important evaluations. This book covers the topic well."--Doody's

"This is an excellent resource for neuropsychologists who wrestle with confirming or ruling out this difficult diagnosis...A well written and authoritative book that contains a wealth of practical information for clinicians as well as substantial 'grist' for the researchers' mill. The text is highly recommended for neuropsychologists who engage in professional activities at any point along the science-practice continuum."--PsycCRITIQUES

"Larrabee's Assessment of Malingered Neuropsychological Deficits sets the new gold standard in this genre, at least until the second edition of this book is published."--Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society

"Given the explosion of civil litigation and applications for Social Security disability, there is a need for cutting-edge information to guide those conducting these very important evaluations. This book covers the topic well."--Doody's

"This is an excellent resource for neuropsychologists who wrestle with confirming or ruling out this difficult diagnosis...A well written and authoritative book that contains a wealth of practical information for clinicians as well as substantial 'grist' for the researchers' mill. The text is highly recommended for neuropsychologists who engage in professional activities at any point along the science-practice continuum."--PsycCRITIQUES

"Larrabee's Assessment of Malingered Neuropsychological Deficits sets the new gold standard in this genre, at least until the second edition of this book is published."--Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society

"Larrabees book is quite timely...provides a thorough and insightful review of a topic that is critically important to neuropsychologists."--Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology

"...an excellent resource... For those clinicians interested in research in the field of neuropsychological malingering this text is a must. Neuropsychologists who seek to perform evaluations will obviously use measures of cognition in their practice. The need to include measures of malingering is also clear. So, therefore, is the need to include this wonderful text on a shelf in your office, in a location where it can be easily accessed."--The Clinical Neuropsychologist

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (July 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195188462
• ISBN-13: 978-0195188462
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #441,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting read, November 4, 2008

By 

Bryce Schroeder (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Assessment of Malingered Neuropsychological Deficits (Hardcover)

Pursuant to my habit of reading sundry non-fiction books for recreation, I recently purchased this wonderful publication. It is clearly written and reasonably accessible to the non-specialist. No educated person should have problems understanding the lucid writing, given a basic familiarity with the nomenclature of the field. Some knowledge of math and stats will also be helpful.

Some of the case studies are amusing. I couldn't help but smile at idea of a malingerer who claimed to be unable to see through glass. The ways in which some malingerers give themselves away are also quite surprising. I laughed out loud at the 13.8% of disability applicants who give away their attempts to fake by getting _worse than chance_ scores on the tests used to evaluate them. Failing at failing is truly sad! This book is not quite as entertaining, as, say, Knuth's _The Art of Computer Programming_, (truly an excellent read) but it's not dry or boring either.

Since I lack a professional background in the topic, I can't make a useful evaluation of the correctness of the content, however it does appear to have much useful information. The book contains extensive discussions of the methodologies used in developing and evaluating the instruments employed to detect malingerers or patients who are otherwise not putting forth an honest effort. It also discusses various well-validated instruments. Both tests designed specifically to detect malingering and the identification of a pattern indicative of that sort of deception on a general neuropsychological test are covered. The book devotes chapter to the effect of coaching malingerers, which was my favorite chapter. Besides tests, other signs of malingering are explained in their own chapters.


Overall, I highly recommend this book for everyone. The general reader will find it both educational and entertaining; The psychologist's knowledge of his or her field will no doubt be enhanced by it; and the prospective malingerer will get a good idea of what he or she is up against. A delightful work.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have book for Neuropsychologists, January 16, 2009

By 

Kukufixer (Salisbury, NC USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Assessment of Malingered Neuropsychological Deficits (Hardcover)

Great book with few weaknesses. Contains a lot of information on a variety of tests and topics. Larrabee has clearly reviewed all the contributors chapters; this is the best book on symptom validity testing that I have found. And it is reasonably short so you don't get burned out half way through.