Construct validity of Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised component process measures in an HIV-1 sample.
Executive dyscontrol of episodic verbal learning and memory secondary to prefrontostriatal circuit neuropathophysiology is a common feature of HIV-1 infection. Prior research indicates that standard clinical learning and recall indexes from Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) are among the most sensitive indicators of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Emerging data support the validity of qualitative component process measures derived from the HVLT-R (e.g., Semantic Clustering); however, no prior studies have examined these particular indices of performance in an HIV-1-infected population. In the present study, we examined the construct validity of HVLT-R component process indices in a sample of 42 persons with HIV-1 infection and 29 demographically similar seronegative comparison participants. The HIV-1 sample performed significantly below the seronegative group on Total and Delayed Recall, Semantic Clustering, and the Retrieval Index. No between-group differences were observed on Serial Clustering, Pair Frequency, Learning, Repetitions, Semantic False Positive Recognition Errors, or the Recognition Discrimination Index. In addition, the HVLT-R component process measures demonstrated evidence of convergent and divergent validity with standard clinical tests in the HIV-1 sample. Findings support the construct validity of HVLT-R component process measures and are commensurate with prior literature indicating that HIV-1 disease is associated with deficient executive control of encoding and retrieval within verbal episodic memory.
Woods
Steven Paul
SP
HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, 0603-H, University of California, San Diego, CA 92103-2005, USA. spwoods@ucsd.edu
Scott
J Cobb
JC
Dawson
Matthew S
MS
Morgan
Erin E
EE
Carey
Catherine L
CL
Heaton
Robert K
RK
Grant
Igor
I
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*