Ability of the Wisconsin Card-Sorting Test-64 as an embedded measure to identify noncredible neurocognitive performance in mild traumatic brain injury litigants

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the ability of selective measures on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-64 (WCST-64) to predict noncredible neurocognitive dysfunction in a large sample of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) litigants.

Method

Participants included 114 adults who underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological examination. Criterion groups were formed based upon their performance on stand-alone measures of cognitive performance validity (PVT).

Results

Participants failing PVTs performed worse across all WCST-64 dependent variables of interest compared to participants who passed PVTs. Receiver operating curve analysis revealed that only categories completed was a significant predictors of PVT status. Multivariate logistic regression did not add to classification accuracy.

Conclusion

Consideration of noncredible executive functioning may be warranted in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) litigants who complete ≤ 1 category on the WCST-64.

Keywords:

• Performance validity testing
• Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-64

Acknowledgement

The author wishes to thank Dr. Jeffrey Gornbein, University of California Los Angles, Department of Medicine Statistics Core for providing statistical assistance.

Disclosure statement

The author received compensation for consultation and assessment services.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.