Empirical correlates and interpretation of the MMPI-2-RF Cognitive Complaints (COG) scale

The MMPI-2-RF Cognitive Complaints (COG) scale (Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008) was developed to assess self-reported memory and other cognitive difficulties. The present study explores cognitive and self-report correlates of the COG scale and provides recommendations for its interpretation. We examined archival demographic, cognitive test, and self-report symptom data from 1741 consecutive, non-head injury disability claimants seen in a private-practice setting. Insufficient cognitive effort and cognitive symptom exaggeration were controlled by excluding cases that scored in the biased responding range on cognitive symptom validity tests and the Response Bias Scale (RBS). Results of the study found that performance on COG was strongly related to subjective cognitive and emotional complaints, but not to objective cognitive deficits. We present three case studies to illustrate interpretive strategies for the COG scale.