Utility of the D-KEFS color word interference test as an embedded measure of performance validity after traumatic brain injury

• Published in: Clinical neuropsychologist 2022-10, Vol.36 (7), p.1964-1974
• Main Authors: Donders, Jacobus, Hayden, Ashley
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assessment; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - complications; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - diagnosis; Humans; Neuropsychological Tests; performance validity; Reproducibility of Results; specificity
• ISSN: 1385-4046; 1744-4144
• DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2020.1861659

Objective We sought to determine the accuracy of embedded performance measures for the D-KEFS Color Word Interference Test that were recently proposed by Eglit et al. In particular, we wanted to determine if these indices would be associated with a specificity of at least .90, an Area Under the Curve of at least .70 and a positive likelihood ratio of at least 2. Method: We used logistic regression to investigate how well these indices could distinguish persons with traumatic brain injury (n = 169) who were evaluated within 1-12 months after injury. All participants had been classified on the basis of at least three independent performance validity tests as valid performance (n = 145) or invalid performance (n = 24). Results: None of the three indices that Eglit et al. had proposed as embedded performance measures for the D-KEFS Color Word Interference Test achieved the a priori defined minimally acceptable level of specificity. One of them did meet the criteria for Area Under the Curve as well as positive likelihood ratio. Conclusion: The current results do not support the application of the Eglit et al. embedded performance validity measures for the D-KEFS Color Word Interference Test in the clinical evaluation of patients with traumatic brain injury.