title: Embedded Performance Validity on the CVLT-C for Youth with Neurological Disorders.
abstract: Embedded validity measures can screen for possible noncredible performance, but there is a paucity of literature with youth who have neurological disorders. The purpose of this study is to examine the California Verbal Learning Test, Children's Version (CVLT-C) recognition discriminability (RD) score as an embedded validity marker in a sample of youth with neurological diagnoses. Youth between 5-16 years old (N = 294; mean age = 11.3, SD = 3.4) completed the CVLT-C and the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM). Overall, 5.4% (n = 16) scored below the established cutoff on the TOMM; they were younger, had lower intellectual abilities, and worse performance on nearly all CVLT-C scores than those who scored above the TOMM cutoff. Using the CVLT-C RD score of z ≤ -0.5 (Baker et al. 2004), our sample had a sensitivity = .81 and specificity = .67. Using z ≤ -3.0 provided sensitivity at .44 with specificity at .90. A lower cutoff score of z ≤ -3.0 for CVLT-C RD is necessary in youth with neurological diagnoses.
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences (Brain Injury and Rehabilitation Programs), Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada brian.brooks@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences (Brain Injury and Rehabilitation Programs), Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Danielle M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ploetz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Assessment; Childhood neurologic disorders