TY - JOUR
T1 - Feigning Adult ADHD on a Comprehensive Neuropsychological Test Battery
T2 - An Analogue Study
AU - Becke, Miriam
AU - Tucha, Lara
AU - Butzbach, Marah
AU - Aschenbrenner, Steffen
AU - Weisbrod, Matthias
AU - Tucha, Oliver
AU - Fuermaier, Anselm B M
PY - 2023/2/24
Y1 - 2023/2/24
N2 - The evaluation of performance validity is an essential part of any neuropsychological evaluation. Validity indicators embedded in routine neuropsychological tests offer a time-efficient option for sampling performance validity throughout the assessment while reducing vulnerability to coaching. By administering a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery to 57 adults with ADHD, 60 neurotypical controls, and 151 instructed simulators, we examined each test's utility in detecting noncredible performance. Cut-off scores were derived for all available outcome variables. Although all ensured at least 90% specificity in the ADHD Group, sensitivity differed significantly between tests, ranging from 0% to 64.9%. Tests of selective attention, vigilance, and inhibition were most useful in detecting the instructed simulation of adult ADHD, whereas figural fluency and task switching lacked sensitivity. Five or more test variables demonstrating results in the second to fourth percentile were rare among cases of genuine adult ADHD but identified approximately 58% of instructed simulators.
AB - The evaluation of performance validity is an essential part of any neuropsychological evaluation. Validity indicators embedded in routine neuropsychological tests offer a time-efficient option for sampling performance validity throughout the assessment while reducing vulnerability to coaching. By administering a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery to 57 adults with ADHD, 60 neurotypical controls, and 151 instructed simulators, we examined each test's utility in detecting noncredible performance. Cut-off scores were derived for all available outcome variables. Although all ensured at least 90% specificity in the ADHD Group, sensitivity differed significantly between tests, ranging from 0% to 64.9%. Tests of selective attention, vigilance, and inhibition were most useful in detecting the instructed simulation of adult ADHD, whereas figural fluency and task switching lacked sensitivity. Five or more test variables demonstrating results in the second to fourth percentile were rare among cases of genuine adult ADHD but identified approximately 58% of instructed simulators.
KW - Adult
KW - Humans
KW - Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/psychology
KW - Malingering/diagnosis
KW - Neuropsychological Tests
KW - Wakefulness
KW - Mentoring
KW - Reproducibility of Results
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph20054070
DO - 10.3390/ijerph20054070
M3 - Article
C2 - 36901080
SN - 1661-7827
VL - 20
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
IS - 5
M1 - 4070
ER -