Detecting symptom- and test-coached simulators with the test of memory malingering.
The ability of the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM; Tombaugh, 1996) to detect feigned-memory impairment was explored. The TOMM was administered to three groups: (a) a control group instructed to perform optimally, (b) a symptom-coached group instructed to feign memory problems after being educated about traumatic brain injury symptomatology, and (c) a test-coached group instructed to feign memory problems after being educated about test-taking strategies to avoid detection. The recommended cutoff scores (Tombaugh, 1996) on Trial 2 and the Retention Trial produced overall classification accuracy rates of 96%, with high levels of sensitivity and specificity. Although the symptom-coached group performed more poorly on the TOMM relative to the test-coached group, the test was equally sensitive in detecting suboptimal effort across the different coaching paradigms.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. powell.matthew@mayo.edu
Matthew R
MR
Powell
Jeffrey D
JD
Gfeller
Bryan L
BL
Hendricks
Michael
M
Sharland
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015588:Observer Variation; D011594:Psychometrics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity