Comparison of multiple scoring methods for Rey's malingered amnesia measures

Abstract

The predictive accuracy of Andre Rey's malingered amnesia measures (Memory for Fifteen Items and Word Recognition List) was examined. Discriminant function and crosstabulation analytic strategies were applied to predict membership in either a traumatically brain injured group (n = 60) or in a litigated minor head injury group claiming permanent severe disability (n = 90). Satisfactory hit rates were achieved with Rey's original scoring methods, but improved hit rates were obtained with scoring modifications. Removal of dense amnesiacs from the sample resulted in even better hit rates. Rey's measures appear to be valid for the assessment of cognitive malingering in settings where litigated disability claims are out of proportion to injury characteristics. Rey's measures are not appropriate for globally and severely impaired patients in clinical settings.