Comparison of multiple scoring methods for Reyʹs malingered amnesia measures

The predictive accuracy of Andre Reyʹs malingered amnesia measures (Memory for Fifteen Items and Word Recognition List) was examined. Discriminant function and crosstabulation analytic strategies were applied to predict membership in either a traumatically brain injured group (n = 60) or in a litigated minor head injury group claiming permanent severe disability (n = 90). Satisfactory hit rates were achieved with Reyʹs original scoring methods, but improved hit rates were obtained with scoring modifications. Removal of dense amnesiacs from the sample resulted in even better hit rates. Reyʹs measures appear to be valid for the assessment of cognitive malingering in settings where litigated disability claims are out of proportion to injury characteristics. Reyʹs measures are not appropriate for globally and severely impaired patients in clinical settings.