Updating the Rey Dot Counting Test for Use in Collegiate Baseline Concussion Testing

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Neuropsychology
• Concussion Assessment

Background:

• Athletes may attempt to mask concussion symptoms by intentionally performing poorly on cognitive tests.
• This phenomenon, termed 'sandbagging,' can compromise accurate post-trauma assessment.
• Standard concussion screening protocols need reliable methods to detect deliberately suppressed performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Rey Dot Counting Test (DCT) as a tool to identify sandbagging in collegiate athletes.
• To determine if the DCT can differentiate between honest and intentionally suppressed effort during cognitive testing.
• To assess the DCT's suitability for inclusion in a university's concussion screening battery.

Main Methods:

• The study involved collegiate athletes and non-athlete students.
• Participants completed the Rey Dot Counting Test (DCT) under varying effort conditions (honest, naive suppressed, coached suppressed).
• Performance data was analyzed to identify patterns indicative of suboptimal effort.

Main Results:

• The Rey Dot Counting Test (DCT) demonstrated effectiveness in detecting intentionally suppressed performance.
• Modified norms derived from collegiate populations were found to be valid for identifying sandbagging.
• The DCT proved to be a reliable measure of suboptimal effort in the context of concussion assessment.

Conclusions:

• The Rey Dot Counting Test (DCT) is a valid and reliable tool for identifying sandbagging in collegiate athletes.
• Incorporating the DCT into university screening batteries can enhance the accuracy of concussion assessments.
• The findings support the use of the DCT with modified norms to prevent the masking of concussion effects.