Detecting Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and its feigning using the Personality Assessment Inventory

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent adult disorder.
• Distinguishing genuine ADHD from feigned symptoms presents a diagnostic challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify effective strategies for detecting ADHD using PAI symptom indicators.
• To discriminate between feigned and genuine ADHD symptoms using PAI negative distortion indicators.

Main Methods:

• Compared two PAI-derived ADHD indicators for differentiating ADHD and control groups.
• Evaluated seven negative distortion indicators for distinguishing real from feigned ADHD.
• Utilized a sample of 463 college-aged participants (ADHD, feigning, and control groups).
• Corroborated self-reported diagnosis and feigning using the CAARS-S: E scale.

Main Results:

• The PAI-ADHD scale demonstrated the highest effectiveness in identifying ADHD symptomatology.
• The Negative Distortion Scale (NDS) and Item-FAA scale were most effective in identifying individuals feigning ADHD.
• PAI-ADHD shows promise for symptom indication, while NDS and Item-FAA aid in ruling out feigning.

Conclusions:

• The PAI-ADHD scale is a valuable tool for assessing ADHD symptoms.
• The NDS and Item-FAA scales are useful for detecting malingering of ADHD symptoms.
• These findings enhance the accuracy of ADHD diagnosis in clinical settings.