Development and validation of the stanford binet-5 rarely missed items-nonverbal index for the detection of malingered mental retardation

The validity of the test of memory malingering (TOMM) with deaf individuals

OBJECTIVE

Administration of performance validity tests (PVT) during neuropsychological assessments is standard practice, with the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) being a commonly used measure. The TOMM has been well validated in hearing populations with various medical and psychiatric backgrounds. A major gap in the literature is the use of the TOMM amongst culturally Deaf individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) as their first and preferred language. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of the TOMM with this population to determine if there may be differences related to the use of semantic knowledge and recall using signs rather than spoken phonemes.

METHOD

This study recruited 30 culturally Deaf, community-dwelling adults, who self-reported that they were not involved in litigation ordisability claims. In addition to the TOMM, participants were screened for cognitive ability using non-verbal components of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, Second Edition (WASI-II) and the Mini Mental State Examination: ASL Version (MMSE:ASL).

RESULTS

Nonverbal intelligence for this sample was within the average range of ability. No participants scored lower than the standard cut-off score for Trial 2 or the Retention Trial on the TOMM (≤44 raw score to indicate invalid responding). Trial 1 performances ranged from 44 to 50, Trial 2 performances ranged from 49 to 50, and Retention performances ranged from 49 to 50.

CONCLUSION

These results support the use of the same standard cut-off scores established for hearing individuals in culturally Deaf individuals who use ASL.

Unreliable block span reveals simulated intellectual disability on the stanford-binet intelligence scales-fifth edition

Previously developed validity measures are largely lacking in their ability to accurately distinguish malingerers from individuals with genuine intellectual disabilities (ID). The purpose of the present study was to develop a validity index for the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales-Fifth Edition (SB-5) aimed at detecting malingered ID. Fifty-four college students were instructed to feign impairment consistent with mental retardation while completing the SB-5. Simulated malingerers performed significantly poorer on the Block Span task of the SB-5 than did individuals with genuine impairment. A Block Span Validity Index (BSVI) cutoff score of less than 10 showed perfect specificity by correctly identifying all persons with true ID and demonstrated 52% sensitivity in identifying persons feigning impairment. For the detection of malingered ID, the BSVI yielded favorable results, although more research is needed to validate the BSVI using a known-groups study design.

Die Standardabweichung der Reaktionszeiten als ein Maß für negative Antwortverzerrungen

Negative Antwortverzerrungen werden quantitativ mit expliziten Beschwerdenvalidierungstests oder mit eingebetteten Parametern untersucht. Es wird die Kriteriumsvalidität der Standardabweichung von Reaktionszeiten als eingebetteter Parameter zur Untersuchung negativer Antwortverzerrungen überprüft. In die Studie wurden 26 Frauen und 65 Männer mit Schädelhirnverletzungen einbezogen. Abhängige Variable war die Standardabweichung der Reaktionszeiten (Untertest Alertness, Testbatterie zur Aufmerksamkeitsprüfung). Prädiktorvariablen in der multivariaten Kovarianzanalyse waren das Alter der Probanden und folgende Testrohwerte: Trail Making Test (Formen A und B), Parameter GSI der Symptomcheckliste, Untertest Zahlennachsprechen vorwärts aus der Wechsler Memory Scale, Strukturierter Fragebogen Simulierter Symptome, der mittlere Wert der in Prozentzahlen ausgedrückten richtigen Antworten der Parameter IR, DR und CNS des Word Memory Tests (WMT), das Geschlecht der Probanden sowie die dichotomisierte Gruppierung von Patienten mit oder ohne klinisch fassbaren Auffälligkeiten der Aufmerksamkeit. Von den Prädiktorvariablen stellte sich allein der mittlere Wert der in Prozent ausgedrückten richtigen Antworten des WMT als signifikant heraus. Probanden mit einer geringen Anzahl richtiger Antworten im WMT zeigten größere Standardabweichungen. Alle weiteren einbezogenen Prädiktoren – insbesondere beide Aufmerksamkeitsparameter – hatten in Bezug auf die Standardabweichungen keinen signifikanten Einfluss.

Validity issues in Atkins death cases

Justice Scalia warned in his dissent in ATKINS v. VIRGINIA, 536 U.S. 304, 122S.Ct. 2242 (2002) that the problem of feigned mental retardation would complicate the findings in cases involving the death penalty in low IQ individuals. Validity measurement in low IQ individuals has been criticized, largely with questions concerning specificity of performance validity tests (PVTs; Salekin & Doane, 2009, Applied Neuropsychology, 16, 105). In this article, our purpose is to examine the false positive rates of specific PVTs in low IQ individuals, particularly with reference to a Symptom Validity Scale previously developed for low functioning individuals (Chafetz, Abrahams, & Kohlmaier, 2007, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 22, 1). The findings show that the PVTs analyzed have few false positives in a low IQ range of 60-75 when these individuals are well motivated to perform highly on testing, which allows these PVTs to be used in high stakes cases to provide evidence concerning malingering. Principles of dealing with performance validity in low functioning individuals are discussed with reference to the issues in capital cases. A practical summary guide is supplied.