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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Operant Procedures for Assessing Behavioral Flexibility in Rats

Operant Procedures for Assessing Behavioral Flexibility in Rats

Published on: February 15, 2015

Feigning a severe impairment profile.

Michael D Chafetz¹, Alexander M Biondolillo

¹Independent Practice, New Orleans, LA, USA. mikechaf@yahoo.com

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology : the Official Journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists

|March 15, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The severe impairment profile (SIP) on performance validity tests (PVTs) can be produced by individuals feigning impairment. However, truly impaired individuals motivated to perform well do not easily produce the SIP, aiding accurate assessment.

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Area of Science:

Neuropsychology
Forensic Psychology

Background:

Performance validity tests (PVTs) are crucial for identifying non-credible effort.
The severe impairment profile (SIP) aims to improve specificity in detecting genuine impairment.
Distinguishing between genuine impairment and malingering is critical in disability claims.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the utility of the SIP in differentiating between low-functioning individuals feigning impairment and those with genuine impairment.
To determine if the SIP can be used to exclude truly low-functioning Social Security Disability (SSD) claimants.
To assess if SSD claimants identified as malingering produce the SIP.

Main Methods:

Comparison of SIP production between Social Security Disability (SSD) claimants and low-functioning Child Protection (CP) claimants.
CP claimants were motivated by the desire to regain custody of their children.
Assessment of SIP occurrence in individuals simulating impairment versus those with genuine low functioning.

Main Results:

The severe impairment profile (SIP) was easily produced by individuals simulating impairment (criterion-malingerers).
Low-functioning Child Protection (CP) claimants, motivated to perform well, did not easily produce the SIP.
Findings suggest the SIP is not readily produced by genuinely impaired individuals attempting to perform well.

Conclusions:

The severe impairment profile (SIP) is not a reliable indicator of genuine impairment when individuals are motivated to perform well.
The SIP may be useful in identifying malingering among individuals with severe impairment.
Clinical judgment regarding impairment should consider performance validity alongside other assessment data.