Feigning Cognitive Symptoms after TBI: Validation of the TOMM and DCT and the Influence of Coaching

Schmitt-Monreal, E. M. (Miriam) (2017) Feigning Cognitive Symptoms after TBI: Validation of the TOMM and DCT and the Influence of Coaching. thesis, Other studies (UMCG).

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Abstract

The awareness about the issue of patients feigning their cognitive deficits after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is increasing in neuropsychological assessment. Therefore, tests developed to detect simulated cognitive impairments need to be validated for their integration in standardized assessment procedures. In our simulation study, 114 students from the University of Groningen were randomly assigned to a naïve or coached TBI simulation group and archival data of 43 healthy controls and 22 genuine patients with TBI were integrated. All participants were assessed with a neuropsychological battery and group outcomes were compared in order to analyze the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) (Tombaugh, 1996) and Dot Counting Test (DCT) (Boone, Lu, & Herzberg, 2002) regarding 1) their validity in detecting individuals feigning their symptoms and 2) the influence of coaching on the discriminatory value of the tests. Large effect sizes and satisfying Areas Under the Curve of Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses were found and the sensitivity and specificity of the tests were analyzed with regard to different cut-off scores. As a result, both the TOMM and DCT proved to be efficient in their classification abilities and were unaffected by coaching in the TBI context. Following these promising results, future research should examine the utility of the tests for other neurological conditions with varying degrees of severity in order to be able to integrate them in a standardized test battery to assess feigning. Additionally, the DCT needs to be further studied regarding its cut-off score for patients with head injuries.

Item Type:	Thesis (Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Fürmaier, Dr. A. B. M.
Supervisor name:	Tucha, Dr. L.
Faculty:	Behavioural and Social Sciences
Keywords:	Neuropsychological assessment, Brain Injury, Cognitive Deficit, Neurology
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2020 10:58
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2020 10:58
URI:	https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1841

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