title: A Factor Analytic Approach to the Validation of the Word Memory Test and Test of Memory Malingering as Measures of Effort and Not Memory.
abstract: Research has demonstrated the utility of performance validity tests (PVTs) as a method of determining adequate effort during a neuropsychological evaluation. Although some studies affirm that forced-choice PVTs measure effort rather than memory, doubts remain in the literature. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between effort and memory variables in a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) sample (n = 160) by separating memory and effort as distinct factors while statistically controlling for the shared covariance between the variables. A two-factor solution was extracted such that the five PVT variables loaded on Factor 1 and the four memory variables loaded on Factor 2. The pattern matrix, which controls for the covariance between variables, provided clear support of two highly distinct factors with minimal cross-loadings. Our findings support assertions that PVTs measure effort independent of memory in veterans with mild TBI.
authors.affiliation: Bay Pines Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bay Pines, FL, USA dhneuropsych@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Heyanka
authors.affiliation: UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Thaler
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma City Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Linck
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Pastorek
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: George E. Wahlen Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romesser
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Anita H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Forensic neuropsychology; Head injury, traumatic brain injury; Learning and Memory; Malingering/symptom validity testing