Performance of mentally retarded forensic patients on the test of memory malingering

Abstract

The utility of the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) with mentally retarded forensic patients was assessed. Twenty-one adjudicated forensic inpatients, who had been diagnosed with mental retardation, were administered the TOMM. The majority of these patients also suffered from an Axis I mental disorder. The participants attained a mean score of 48.7 on Trial 2, with only 1 participant scoring below the standard cutoff for malingering (i.e., 45). The participants attained a mean score of 49.4 on the Retention Trial, with no participants falling below the cutoff for malingering. The results clearly indicate that mildly retarded forensic patients can perform well on the TOMM. The findings provide evidence that the TOMM can be used in the assessment of mildly retarded criminal defendants with little fear of obtaining false indications of malingering.