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Finger Tapping Test performance as a measure of performance validity.
Bradley N Axelrod1, John E Meyers, Jeremy J Davis
1a Psychology Section , John D. Dingell DVAMC , Detroit , MI , USA.
The Clinical Neuropsychologist
|April 18, 2014
Summary
The Finger Tapping Test (FTT) can help detect invalid performance in neuropsychological evaluations. Combining multiple FTT scoring methods improves sensitivity for identifying suboptimal effort.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Cognitive assessment
- Performance validity testing
Background:
- The Finger Tapping Test (FTT) is commonly used as a performance validity measure in neuropsychological assessments.
- Detecting invalid performance is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of three different scoring systems for the FTT in identifying invalid performance.
- To determine the diagnostic utility of these FTT scoring methods in clinical and independent practice settings.
Main Methods:
- The study analyzed neuropsychological cases with established credible or invalid performance.
- Three distinct FTT scoring systems were applied to assess performance validity.
- Specificity and sensitivity rates were calculated for each scoring method.
Main Results:
- Individual FTT scoring methods achieved approximately 90% specificity and just over 40% sensitivity.
- When suboptimal performance was defined by failing any of the three scoring methods, specificity remained high, and sensitivity increased to 50%.
Conclusions:
- Combining multiple FTT scoring systems enhances sensitivity for detecting invalid performance without compromising specificity.
- Embedded measures like the FTT, when scored using multiple methods, offer valuable insights into performance validity during neuropsychological evaluations.
