Cross-validation of indicators of malingering: a comparison of nine neuropsychological tests, four tests of malingering, and behavioral observations

Abstract

Few studies to date have cross-validated indicators of malingering that have been suggested on various neuropsychological tests. This study presents data cross-validating several indicators of malingering on neuropsychological tests, as well as on tests of malingering and via behavioral observations. It incorporates methodological recommendations by Rogers [Researching dissimulation. In: R. Rogers (Ed.), Clinical assessment of malingering and deception (pp. 309–327). New York: Guilford Press.] resulting in an ecologically valid design utilizing college students with a history of mild head injury as analog malingerers. Results indicated that the Letter Memory Test (LMT) and the Digit Memory Test (DMT) attained the highest hit rates for the detection of malingering, while the sensitivity of many other measures declined on cross-validation.