The effects of symptom overreporting on PTSD treatment outcome

• Published in: European journal of psychotraumatology Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 1794729
• Main Authors: van Minnen, Agnes, van Dalen, Birgit, Voorendonk, Eline M., Wagenmans, Anouk, de Jongh, Ad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 11.08.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: intensive treatment; malingering; Other; Overreporting symptoms are often seen as an contra-indication for treatment. PTSD-patients who overreported symptoms benefitted from trauma-focused treatment. Overreporting symptoms may have other underlying reasons than malingering. Overreporting patients should not be excluded from trauma-focused treatment; Post traumatic stress disorder; resultados del tratamiento; Short Communication; simulación; sobre-informe de síntomas; symptom overreporting; tratamiento centrado en el trauma; tratamiento intensivo; trauma-focused treatment; treatment outcome; 强化治疗; 治疗结果; 症状过度报告; 聚焦创伤治疗; malingering; symptom overreporting; Overreporting symptoms are often seen as an contra-indication for treatment.• PTSD-patients who overreported symptoms benefitted from trauma-focused treatment.• Overreporting symptoms may have other underlying reasons than malingering.• Overreporting patients should not be excluded from trauma-focused treatment; intensive treatment; treatment outcome; trauma-focused treatment
• ISSN: 2000-8066; 2000-8198; 2000-8066
• DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1794729

It is often assumed that individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who overreport their symptoms should be excluded from trauma-focused treatments. To investigate the effects of a brief, intensive trauma-focused treatment programme for individuals with PTSD who are overreporting symptoms. Individuals (n = 205) with PTSD participated in an intensive trauma-focused treatment programme consisting of EMDR and prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, physical activity and psycho-education. Assessments took place at pre- and post-treatment (Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology; SIMS, Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5; CAPS-5). Using a high SIMS cut-off of 24 or above, 14.1% (n = 29) had elevated SIMS scores (i.e. 'overreporters'). The group of overreporters showed significant decreases in PTSD-symptoms, and these treatment results did not differ significantly from other patients. Although some patients (35.5%) remained overreporters at post-treatment, SIMS scores decreased significantly during treatment. The results suggest that an intensive trauma-focused treatment not only is a feasible and safe treatment for PTSD in general, but also for individuals who overreport their symptoms.