In 1980, a screening tool was developed by Waddell et al to assess nonorganic behaviors and signs. Nonorganic behaviors are thought to be driven by emotional or psychological distress, not necessarily underlying pathology. It also does not necessarily mean someone is purposefully faking an illness, but the behaviors are an expression of the underlying emotional or psychological distress. Some clinicians do not feel this screening tool is reliable however.

A. Apeldoorn et al. The reliability of nonorganic sign-testing and the Waddell score in patients with chronic low back pain. SPINE. Volume 33. Number 7. Pp. 821-826.

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