Neuropsychological false positives in litigation: trail making test findings

100 workers' compensation claimants with no known history of brain injury and no claim for neuropsychological impairment were administered a generally accepted neuropsychological screening instrument, the Trail Making Test, to consider the possibility that the presence of litigation may be reflected in neuropsychological test scores. On Trails A and B, respectively, 40% and 36% of subjects scored in the impaired range. Clinicians are urged to interpret the results of the Trail Making Test cautiously when a patient is in litigation. Suggestions for research are offered.