Objective
The Memory Validity Profile (MVP) is a standalone performance validity test developed specifically for use with children. Prior research has demonstrated the MVP’s strength in its ease of administration to children with a wide range of intellectual abilities. However, it has been found to lack sensitivity in detecting noncredible performance in select clinical populations using published cut-offs. The current study examines the MVP’s performance in a diagnostically heterogeneous clinical sample and proposes a new cut-off for optimization of sensitivity and specificity.
Method
Archival clinical data was examined from 96 participants referred for a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation (ages 6–18). Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to assess the discriminative ability of MVP in detecting cases of noncredible performance defined as failures on both the Test of Memory Malingering and Reliable Digit Span.
Results
Using published cut-offs, the MVP demonstrated perfect specificity (100%) but suboptimal sensitivity (33.3%). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed strong discrimination using MVP Total score (AUC = 0.891 (p < 0.001) and a MVP Total cut-score of ≤30 resulted in optimal sensitivity (89%) and specificity (63%).
Conclusions
Our findings provide additional evidence that published MVP cut-offs may be too lenient to adequately capture instances of noncredible performance and indicate an MVP Total score cut-off of ≤30 may be more appropriate for use with heterogeneous clinical populations.
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