Detecting malingering in head injury litigation with the Word Memory Test

Brain Inj. 1999 Oct;13(10):813-9. doi: 10.1080/026990599121205.

Abstract

The Word Memory Test (WMT) is a relatively new computer-based test that is designed to measure both verbal memory and biased responding (i.e. malingering). The purpose of this study was to examine the performance of a large sample of patients involved in head injury litigation on the WMT measures of biased responding. The patients were divided into two groups, those with relatively mild head injuries (n = 234) and those with moderate or severe brain injuries (n = 64). The patients with less severe injuries performed significantly poorer on the WMT measures of biased responding.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amnesia / diagnosis*
  • Amnesia / psychology
  • Brain Injury, Chronic / diagnosis*
  • Brain Injury, Chronic / psychology
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Malingering / diagnosis*
  • Malingering / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retention, Psychology
  • Verbal Learning*