The Effect of Feedback on Underperformance during Neuropsychological Assessment on Subsequent Neuropsychological Performance

Abstract

Introduction. As underperformance negatively influences the diagnostic process, it is important to investigate interventions that can adjust this. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of feedback upon underperformance (i.e. failing a performance validity test (PVT) on subsequent neuropsychological assessment. Method. The Amsterdam Short-Term Memory test (ASTM), Digit Span (DS) and Word Fluency (WF) test were administered in a randomized controlled trial to clinical patients referred for neuropsychological assessment. After ASTM failure, patients were randomly assigned to the intervention group (feedback n = 39; no-feedback n = 30). All tests were re-administered after the intervention. Results. Time affected ASTM performance, with an improvement regardless of feedback-group. An effect of feedback was found in the Digit Span Forwards test, the first test re-administered after the intervention and second administration of the PVT. No feedback effect was found for the other tests. This may suggest that the feedback effect is short-lived. Conclusion. Feedback on underperformance affects performance on the non-PVT tests during subsequent neuropsychological assessment. This suggests that feedback influences neuropsychological performance and warrants further research to understand the underlying mechanisms as intervening on underperformance potentially positively influences neuropsychological assessment.