Symptom Validity Test Performance in U.S. Veterans Referred for Evaluation of Mild TBI

Abstract

The current study examined Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT) performance in U.S. veterans referred for evaluation of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) after scoring positive on the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) TBI screening measures. Fifty-eight percent of the sample scored below the MSVT cut scores on subtests more sensitive to effort than to neurological insult. There were no differences among those who did and those who did not pass the MSVT as a function of gender, age, education, ethnicity, previous posttraumatic stress disorder or substance use disorder diagnoses, or Personality Assessment Inventory validity scales designed to measure negative impression management. A higher number of those who were service connected and previously diagnosed with a depressive condition failed the measure at a higher rate than those who were not. These results are discussed in relation to the specific nature of VHA patient populations.

Key words:

• mild TBI
• MSVT
• Symptom Validity Testing

This material is the result of work supported in part with resources and the use of facilities at the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center, Pacific Islands Health Care System, Honolulu, Hawaii. Contents do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Government.

Notes

Note. Easy-Hard subtest differences in those passing MSVT were not reported as this statistic is only examined in individuals who fail the easy subtests (Green, 2004).

Note. SUD Dx = Substance Use Disorder Diagnosis.

†t-test.

‡χ ² test.

Note. NIM = Negative Impression Management.

Patrick Armistead-Jehle is now at Munson Army Health Center, Department of Behavioral Health, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.