• Dustin B Wygant, Paul A Arbisi, Kevin J Bianchini, and Robert L Umlauf.
• Department of Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Ave, Richmond, KY 40475, USA. Electronic address: dustin.wygant@eku.edu.
• Spine J. 2017 Apr 1; 17 (4): 505-510.

Background ContextWaddell et al. identified a set of eight non-organic signs in 1980. There has been controversy about their meaning, particularly with respect to their use as validity indicators.PurposeThe current study examined the Waddell signs in relation to measures of somatic amplification or over-reporting in a sample of outpatient chronic pain patients. We examined the degree to which these signs were associated with measures of over-reporting.Study Design/SettingThis study examined scores on the Waddell signs in relation to over-reporting indicators in an outpatient chronic pain sample.Patient SampleWe examined 230 chronic pain patients treated at a multidisciplinary pain clinic. The majority of these patients presented with primary back or spinal injuries.Outcome MeasuresThe outcome measures used in the study were Waddell signs, Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire, Pain Disability Index, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form.MethodsWe examined Waddell signs using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and analysis of variance (ANOVA), receiver operating characteristic analysis, classification accuracy, and relative risk ratios.ResultsMultivariate analysis of variance and ANOVA showed a significant association between Waddell signs and somatic amplification. Classification analyses showed increased odds of somatic amplification at a Waddell score of 2 or 3.ConclusionsOur results found significant evidence of an association between Waddell signs and somatic over-reporting. Elevated scores on the Waddell signs (particularly scores higher than 2 and 3) were associated with increased odds of exhibiting somatic over-reporting.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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