title: Effort, symptom validity testing, performance validity testing and traumatic brain injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To understand the neurocognitive effects of brain injury, valid neuropsychological test findings are paramount.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review examines the research on what has been referred to a symptom validity testing (SVT). Above a designated cut-score signifies a 'passing' SVT performance which is likely the best indicator of valid neuropsychological test findings. Likewise, substantially below cut-point performance that nears chance or is at chance signifies invalid test performance. Significantly below chance is the sine qua non neuropsychological indicator for malingering. However, the interpretative problems with SVT performance below the cut-point yet far above chance are substantial, as pointed out in this review. This intermediate, border-zone performance on SVT measures is where substantial interpretative challenges exist. Case studies are used to highlight the many areas where additional research is needed. Historical perspectives are reviewed along with the neurobiology of effort. Reasons why performance validity testing (PVT) may be better than the SVT term are reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advances in neuroimaging techniques may be key in better understanding the meaning of border zone SVT failure. The review demonstrates the problems with rigidity in interpretation with established cut-scores. A better understanding of how certain types of neurological, neuropsychiatric and/or even test conditions may affect SVT performance is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology .
authors.forename: Erin D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Bigler
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Effort testing; neuropsychological assessment; performance validity testing; symptom validity testing; traumatic brain injury