Abstract
This study is focused on the symptom validity testing and intentional malingering (simulation) of specific symptoms or disease.The primary goal of this study was to determine the discriminatory properties, maximum performance and the ability to intentionally dissimulate the results of the Rey 15-Item Memory Test within the general population sample. The sample included healthy participants (N = 136) that received one of the following instruction manipulations: 1.
Effort to show the best performance (maximum performance); 2. Effort to get disability pension (significant malingering); 3.
Effort to extend sick leave (mild malingering). For the best performance the average score was 14 points (SD = 2,65).
For the effort to obtain the disability pension the average score was 4 points (SD = 3,39), while for the extended sick leave it was 8 points (SD = 3,76). For the specified cut of < 9 (score 8 or lower represented the effort to deliberately misrepresent the results) our test had 82% specificity and 95% sensitivity.
The best specificity was reached at a cut-off point of 10 (96 %), while the sensitivity was 90 %. Overall the psychometric properties of The Rey 15 Item Memory test are good and it is recommended for use in forensic and clinical practice.
It has the ability to differentiate between malingering and non-malingering people and may thus be a useful screening tool. This test should not be used independently but with complementary methods for further testing,such as The Coin in the Hand Test.