Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive validity of the Word Memory Test (WMT),
a verbal memory neuropsychological test developed as a performance validity
measure to assess memory, effort, and performance consistency. DESIGN: Cohort
study with 1-year follow-up. SETTING: Workers' compensation rehabilitation
facility. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included workers' compensation claimants
with work-related head injury (N=188; mean age, 44y; 161 men [85.6%]).
INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures for
determining predictive validity included days to suspension of wage replacement
benefits during the 1-year follow-up and work status at discharge in claimants
undergoing rehabilitation. Analysis included multivariable Cox and logistic
regression. RESULTS: Better WMT performance was significantly but weakly
correlated with younger age (r=-.30), documented brain abnormality (r=.28), and
loss of consciousness at the time of injury (r=.25). Claimants with documented
brain abnormalities on diagnostic imaging scans performed better ( approximately
9%) on the WMT than those without brain abnormalities. The WMT predicted days
receiving benefits (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval,
1.04-1.24) and work status outcome at program discharge (adjusted odds ratio,
1.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-2.34). CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide
evidence for the predictive validity of the WMT in workers' compensation
claimants. Younger claimants and those with more severe brain injuries performed
better on the WMT. It may be that financial incentives or other factors related
to the compensation claim affected the performance.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS