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Abstract Objective The CVLT-3 is a measure of verbal learning and memory used extensively in clinical and research settings that contains an embedded performance validity indicator, a forced choice recognition trial (CVLT-3-FCR). The CVLT-2-FCR was modified for the CVLT-3-FCR, replacing abstract with concrete distractor words. To date, no one has reported independent data on failure rates in clinical populations on the CVLT-3-FCR. Method Participants were 373 patients referred for clinical neuropsychological evaluation who completed the CVLT-3 (Standard form) as part of their evaluation. Mean age was 61.20 (SD = 14.30, range = 20–86), mean education was 15.00 years (SD = 2.87, range = 6–21), 53.1% were male, and 97.6% White. Failure was defined as CVLT-3-FCR score ≤ 14. Results 85.5% of our mixed clinical sample had CVLT-3-FCR score of 16/16, and 7.5% had 15/16. Only 7% (N = 26) scored ≤14, most common primary diagnoses being mild neurocognitive disorder (N = 9) and psychiatric (N = 7), while only four had dementia of any etiology. Those who failed tended to be a little older [pass = 60.82 years (SD = 14.44), fail = 66.38 years (SD = 11.28); p = 0.055) and scored lower for CVLT-3 Total Trials 1–5, short- and long-delay free recall, recognition hits, false positives, and discriminability (all p 0.001). Conclusions Findings indicate CVLT-3-FCR ≤ 14 is extremely rare in a large mixed clinical sample of adults and older adults, even in subsamples for whom lower scores on PVTs have been suggested (e.g., dementia). While passing the CVLT-3-FCR does not in itself confirm adequate test engagement, failure should raise concern and the need for additional PVTs in one’s assessment.
Myers et al. (Thu,) studied this question.