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Further Evidence for Embedded Performance Validity Tests in Children within the Conners' Continuous Performance Test
Jonathan D Lichtenstein1,2,3, Lloyd Flaro4, Fern S Baldwin1
1a Department of Psychiatry, Pediatric Neuropsychology Program , Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth , Lebanon , New Hampshire.
Developmental Neuropsychology
|January 17, 2019
Summary
Conners Continuous Performance Test subscales show promise as performance validity tests (PVTs) for children, but their low sensitivity limits clinical use in evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Child Psychology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Performance validity tests (PVTs) are crucial for ensuring the reliability of cognitive assessments in children.
- Previous research has explored the utility of various measures as PVTs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To replicate and evaluate the Conners Continuous Performance Test - Second Edition (CPT-3) subscales (Omissions, Hit Reaction Time, Perseverations) as embedded PVTs in a pediatric sample.
- To determine the classification accuracy of these subscales.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 414 children and adolescents was assessed.
- Classification accuracy, including sensitivity and specificity, was calculated for the Omissions (OMI), Hit Reaction Time (HRT), and Perseverations (PER) subscales of the CPT-3.
Main Results:
- The OMI, HRT, and PER subscales exhibited good specificity in identifying valid performances.
- However, sensitivity was consistently low and variable across different cutoff scores, indicating a limited ability to detect invalid performances.
Conclusions:
- The CPT-3 subscales (OMI, HRT, PER) can function as embedded PVTs in mixed pediatric clinical samples.
- Their clinical utility is constrained by low sensitivity, necessitating careful consideration in ADHD evaluations, medication-seeking patients, and concussion clinics.