Abstract

QUEZADA-ORTEGA, Martín Rafael et al. Malingering among workers seeking disability insurance. Gac. Méd. Méx [online]. 2006, vol.142, n.2, pp.109-112. ISSN 2696-1288.

Objective: Describe the frequency and characteristics of Mexican Social Security workers with malingering disorder that request disability pension. Material and methods: Comparative survey made among 136 workers seen during 2001, which were divided into three groups: malingering workers (MW), workers without disability (WOD), and workers with disability (WWD). We administered the Z Test for scaled variables and Test for nominal variables to identify group differences Results: The incidence of malingering was of 2.2/100,000 workers. Mean age was 41.9 ± 10.1 years, 440 was the average number of days of labor disability; 51 (37%) workers were malingerers. 35 (26%) workers were work disabled and 50 (37%) without disability. Malingerers had higher level of schooling compared with WOD and WWD (p < 0.02); most worked at the Social Security (p < 0.05), with lower number of previous jobs (p < 0.05), presented longer work disability (p < 0.05). Depressive symptoms were not frequently noted (p < 0.025) and all had normal electroencephalogram and brain computed tomography studies. Conclusions: Malingering workers who request work disability pensions follow a particular pattern that differs from other workers that request disability assessment at the Social Security Institute of Mexico.

Keywords : Malingering; disability; workers.