Relative Utility of Performance and Symptom Validity Tests.

Abstract

This investigation adds to the burgeoning body of research concerned with discriminating performance and symptom validity tests (SVTs) through examination of their differential relationships with cognitive performance and symptom self-report measures. To the authors' current knowledge, prior studies have not assessed differences between participants who fail either a performance validity test (PVT) or an SVT but not both. As part of their neuropsychological evaluations at four Veterans Affairs medical centers across the United States, participants were administered a fixed, standardized battery that consisted of performance validity, symptom validity, cognitive performance, and symptom self-report measures. Compared with participants who failed a PVT and an SVT, participants who passed both and participants who only passed a PVT demonstrated better cognitive performance and self-reported fewer symptoms. Results support differential clinical utility of performance validity and SVTs when assessing cognitive performance and symptom self-report.