title: Using the Wechsler Memory Scale-III to detect malingering in mild traumatic brain injury.
abstract: This study examined the classification accuracy of the WMS-III primary indices in the detection of Malingered Neurocognitive Dysfunction (MND) in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) using a known-groups design. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive power are presented for a range of index scores comparing mild TBI non-malingering (n = 34) and mild TBI malingering (n = 31) groups. A moderate/severe TBI non-malingering (n = 28) and general clinical group (n = 93) are presented to examine specificity in these samples. In mild TBI, sensitivities for the primary indices ranged from 26% to 68% at 97% specificity. Three systems used to combine all eight index scores were also examined and all achieved at least 58% sensitivity at 97% specificity in mild TBI. Specificity was generally lower in the moderate/severe TBI and clinical comparison groups. This study indicates that the WMS-III primary indices can accurately identify malingered neurocognitive dysfunction in mild TBI when used as part of a comprehensive classification system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ord
authors.forename: Kevin W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Greve
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Bianchini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*