Neuropsychological test performance of successful brain injury simulators.
This study provided an examination of the performance characteristics of successful brain injury simulators (SBIS). Coached (n = 56) and uncoached (n = 35) brain injury simulators received instructions to fake cognitive impairment; controls were asked to do their best. The Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) was administered along with standard neuropsychological measures (e.g., Wisconsin Card Sorting Test). The TOMM identified 80% of uncoached and 60% of coached brain injury simulators. SBIS were participants from the brain injury simulation groups whose TOMM performance indicated adequate effort. A total of 32% of all brain injury simulators scored above the TOMM cutoff scores for adequate effort (the SBIS group). Significantly more coached than uncoached participants composed the SBIS group (76% vs. 24%, respectively). SBIS performed significantly worse than controls and significantly better than unsuccessful brain injury simulators on select standard neuropsychological measures. The SBIS scores were lowered compared to controls; in some instances this lowered performance was at a clinically relevant level.
DenBoer
John W
JW
University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA. jwdenboer@yahoo.com
Hall
Stuart
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity