Academic Journal
Susceptibility of the CAARS-2 Self-Report to Sophisticated Malingering.
| Τίτλος: | Susceptibility of the CAARS-2 Self-Report to Sophisticated Malingering. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Weis R; Denison University, Granville, OH, USA., Sund AM; Denison University, Granville, OH, USA. |
| Πηγή: | Journal of attention disorders [J Atten Disord] 2026 Aug; Vol. 30 (8), pp. 1080-1087. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Mar 12. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: SAGE Publications Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 9615686 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1557-1246 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10870547 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Atten Disord Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 2005- : Thousand Oaks : SAGE Publications Original Publication: Toronto ; North Tonawanda, NY : Multi-Health Systems Inc., c1996- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Malingering*/diagnosis , Malingering*/psychology , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity*/diagnosis , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity*/psychology , Self Report* , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales*, Humans ; Female ; Adult ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult |
| Περίληψη: | Objective: The Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales Second Edition (CAARS-2) is a norm-referenced screening measure of ADHD symptoms and associated clinical concerns in adults. Unlike its predecessor, the CAARS-2 features a Negative Impression Index (NII) to detect unrealistically negative ratings or an exaggerated description of problems. Data presented in the CAARS-2 manual indicate that the NII differentiates simulators and adults with genuine ADHD with high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Methods: We attempted to replicate these findings by conducting a simulation study with 222 adults with and without ADHD. Unlike the original studies, however, simulators were provided a plausible reason for feigning ADHD, coached to simulate and warned to avoid detection, and incentivized for credibly feigning. Results: On average, simulators earned significant elevations on CAARS-2 scales assessing the number and severity of DSM inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Simulators' DSM scores did not differ significantly from those shown by participants with ADHD. The NII demonstrated high specificity (92%) to honest examinees with ADHD, but low sensitivity to simulators (8%). Most simulators were able to earn elevated CAARS-2 scores while avoiding detection. Most simulators were also able to provide credible responses while still earning high ADHD Index Scores (81%) and endorsing significant impairment in at least one functional domain (90%). Conclusion: Clinicians should continue to corroborate elevated CAARS-2 symptom scores with objective evidence of real-world functional limitations. |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: ADHD; CAARS-2; assessment; malingering; response validity; symptom validity |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260313 Date Completed: 20260704 Latest Revision: 20260704 |
| Update Code: | 20260704 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/10870547261427112 |
| PMID: | 41821297 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1557-1246 |
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| DOI: | 10.1177/10870547261427112 |