Assessing symptom exaggeration of psychopathology in incarcerated individuals and mentally ill offenders within forensic contexts

Abstract

In forensic contexts, there is a high probability that offenders may exaggerate illness to avoid legal punishment. Since very few empirical studies presently exist on this matter in Thailand, the objectives are to explore the prevalence rate of the exaggeration of psychopathological symptoms and to examine the detection strategy response styles for Thai version of the Symptom validity test (SVT-Th). An analysis of the factors that influence symptom exaggeration would also be included. Mixed participants included 608 individuals consisting of 528 Incarcerated individuals and 80 Mentally Ill Offenders (MIOs). SVT-Th indicated the prevalence rates of feigned psychopathology among overall offenders were 8.88%, 3.20% for incarcerated individuals, and 46.30% for MIOs. As expected, the endorsed average scores of the psychopathological symptoms using the Amplifier and Unlikely response style were recorded at similar amounts. Offenders with a history of mental illness exaggerated their symptoms to a greater degree than those without a history of mental illness. With regard to the type of crime and the number of offenses, no discrepancies of statistical significance were found. Interestingly, offenders who committed violent crimes, and with more than four times the number of offenses, were more likely to exaggerate their symptoms than the other subjects.