PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R O Gervais
AU  - A S Russell
AU  - P Green
AU  - L M Allen, 3rd
AU  - R Ferrari
AU  - S D Pieschl
TI  - Effort testing in patients with fibromyalgia and disability incentives.
DP  - 2001 Aug 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 1892--1899
VI  - 28
IP  - 8
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/28/8/1892.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/28/8/1892.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2001 Aug 01; 28
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine whether symptom exaggeration is a factor in complaints of cognitive dysfunction using 2 new validated instruments in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). METHODS: Ninety-six patients with FM and 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were administered 2 effort or symptom validity tests designed to detect exaggerated memory complaints as part of a battery of psychological tests and self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: A large percentage of patients with FM who were on or seeking disability benefits failed the effort tests. Only 2 patients with FM who were working and/or not claiming disability benefits and no patient with RA scored below the cutoffs for exaggeration of memory difficulties. CONCLUSION: This study illustrates the importance of assessing for exaggeration of cognitive symptoms and biased responding in patients with FM presenting for disability related evaluations.