Detecting Malingered COVID-19 Symptoms Using the Verifiability Approach.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened concerns about malingering, particularly given its recognition as an occupational disease in several regions. This study evaluated the applicability of the Verifiability Approach (VA), a credibility assessment tool based on the principle that liars provide fewer verifiable details than truth tellers, to distinguish between honest reporters and malingerers of COVID-19 infection.

Methods

A total of 410 participants (51.5% female) completed an online survey via Google Forms. Participants who reported previous COVID-19 infection (n = 205) were assigned to either an informed honest (n = 104) or not-informed honest (n = 101) group, while those without prior infection (n = 205) were assigned to informed malingerers (n = 105) or not-

SUBMITTER: Ribatti RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12922456 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature