Publications (9) View all
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Article: Symptom validity test failure indicates invalidity of neuropsychological tests.
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ABSTRACT: Neuropsychological and symptom validity test results from 220 archival cases were analyzed to determine if failing a symptom validity test (SVT) affects the relationship between neuropsychological tests and brain damage. Results reveal that among those who failed either the Word Memory Test (WMT) or the Computerized Test of Attention and Memory (CTAM) there was no correlation between the results of 25 commonly used neuropsychological tests and objectively determined brain damage. For those who passed SVTs, the expected relationship between neuropsychological tests and brain damage was found. Consistent with earlier findings, effort had a greater effect on test performance than did brain damage. SVT performance was not correlated with either brain damage or the presence of external incentives. Results indicate the need for symptom validity testing in all cases and that failure of a single SVT can invalidate the expected brain-behavior relationship that underlies neuropsychological test interpretation.The Clinical Neuropsychologist 04/2011; 25(3):488-95. · 2.12 Impact Factor -
Article: Equations for prorating the symptom validity scale (FBS) for the 370-item MMPI-2.
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ABSTRACT: The Symptom Validity Scale (FBS), based on the 567-item form of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), has been shown to be a valid measure of symptom over-reporting. To extend its usefulness to the 370-item form, complete FBS scores (FBS) and FBS scores based on the 370-item form (FBS-S) were extracted from 707 protocols from various testing contexts. Regression analyses using the FBS-S score were developed to predict FBS scores. Results indicate that the full FBS score can be accurately prorated from the FBS-S. Calculated coefficients based on FBS-S score were slightly, but not meaningfully, better than a rationally derived proration in estimating the full FBS score.The Clinical Neuropsychologist 10/2010; 24(7):1238-42. · 2.12 Impact Factor -
Article: MMPI-2 validity scores in defense- versus plaintiff-selected examinations: a repeated measures study of examiner effects.
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ABSTRACT: The effects of forensic examiner role on validity scores have rarely been studied empirically. We used a repeated measures design to examine the association between examiner role (plaintiff- and defense-selected neuropsychologists) and scores on eight Minnesota Multiphasic Inventory-2 validity scores (MMPI-2-VRIN, -TRIN, -L, -K, -F, -Fb, -Fp, and -FBS) of the same 80 individuals. All 80 were involved in litigation following mostly minor neurological injuries. We found no significant within-group differences on any of the MMPI-2 validity scales. Concordance of pass/fail rates between examinations was above 80%, except for MMPI-2-Fb. For example, the Symptom Validity Scale (MMPI-2-FBS) showed equivalently high failure rates (70%) during both examinations. This study does not support the view that examiner role affects symptom validity scores in forensic settings.The Clinical Neuropsychologist 02/2010; 24(2):305-14. · 2.12 Impact Factor -
Article: Commentary on cognitive impairment with toxigenic fungal exposure.
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ABSTRACT: Recently, Gordon et al. (2004) published an article entitled "Cognitive Impairment Associated with Toxigenic Fungal Exposure: A Replication and Extension of Previous Findings." That article claims that neurocognitive deficits are pervasive in persons self-diagnosed with "toxic" mold exposure relative to historical norms. Further, Gordon et al. argue exposure to household molds causes brain damage similar to closed head injury. Examination of their methodology reveals unfounded and unreliable conclusions due to deviations from sound epidemiological principles, bias in participant selection, misleading data analysis, and implausible causal reasoning. The purpose of this critique is to outline the specific design and reasoning flaws that, if not addressed, would lead to unwarranted conclusions regarding the effects of mold exposure.Applied Neuropsychology 02/2005; 12(3):129-33. · 1.17 Impact Factor -
Article: Commentary on Butcher, Arbisi, Atlis, and McNulty (2003) on the Fake Bad Scale.
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology 05/2004; 19(3):333-6; author reply 341-5. · 2.18 Impact Factor
