Sensitivity of the Test of Memory Malingering and the Nonverbal Medical Symptom Validity Test: A Replication Study

Abstract

The current investigation sought to replicate and extend the findings of Green (in press), which demonstrated superior sensitivity of the Nonverbal Medical Symptom Validity Test (NV-MSVT) relative to the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) in the detection of suboptimal effort during neuropsychological assessment. Nearly twice as many examinees failed the NV-MSVT than the TOMM. Profile analyses of the NV-MSVT demonstrated patterns suggestive of inconsistent effort in those who failed the NV-MSVT but passed the TOMM. A classification analysis employing the Word Memory Test and Medical Symptom Validity Test as external criteria for poor effort showed that the NV-MSVT is substantially more sensitive to poor effort than the TOMM and maintains an acceptable false-positive rate. Overall, results closely matched those of the Green (in press) study and extend the evidence that the NV-MSVT possesses better sensitivity to poor effort than the TOMM.