Detection of symptom over-reporting on the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory in OEF/OIF/OND veterans with history of mild TBI

AbstractObjective: As part of routine care at Veterans Affairs facilities, veterans with a service-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) are administered a self-report post-concussive symptom measure, the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI). Interpreting the NSI can be problematic given that over-reporting on self-report measures is often found in both civilian and military patient populations. This study investigates embedded scales on the NSI that identify possible and probable symptom exaggeration. Method: 183 veterans with a history of mild TBI were administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, 2nd edition, Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) and the NSI. The participants were divided into symptom validity testing pass and fail groups based on their performance on the MMPI-2-RF symptom validity scales. Cut scores on the NSI Total and Validity-10 scores were then established and applied to two additional veteran populations. Results: Sensitivity and specificity values were derived for all ...