Measuring Effort in Neuropsychological Evaluations of Forensic Cases of Spanish Speakers

Abstract

Changing demographics indicate a dramatic growth in Spanish speakers in the USA. There is an increasing need to provide valid neuropsychological evaluations to these individuals as well as interest in providing the same in Latin American countries. This is especially the case with symptom validity testing, in general, and those involved with litigation in particular. To address this situation, the Dot Counting Test, the Rey 15-Item Test, and the Test of Memory Malingering were administered to clinical controls as well as individuals involved in litigation-forensic non-capital and forensic capital murder cases. The results represent a first step toward the determination of the utility of those tests to address effort in Spanish speakers in the USA.