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.

Key words:

• disability claimants
• Nonverbal Medical Symptom Validity Test
• symptom validity testing
• Test of Memory Malingering

Acknowledgments

The views, opinions, and/or findings contained in this article are those of the authors and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy, or decision unless so designated by other official documentation.

Notes

*Defined as passing or failing the easy NV-MSVT subtests.

Sens = Sensitivity; Spec = Specificity; PPP = Positive Predictive Power; NPP = Negative Predictive Power; LR+ = Positive Likelihood Ratio; BR = base rate of symptom validity test failure in the present sample.