The Victoria Symptom Validity Test

The Victoria Symptom Validity Test (VSVT) is a computer-administered and scored, two-alternative, forced-choice symptom validity test designed to assess the validity of a patient's purported cognitive impairments (Slick, Hopp, Strauss, & Thompson, 1997). The VSVT benefits from numerous enhancements that increase its sensitivity beyond that of other earlier symptom validity tests without increasing its administration time or decreasing its specificity. It also has the ability to generate graphs and reports that can be used to assist the jury and the court in assessing whether a plaintiff's purported cognitive impairments are valid without the requirement of an extensive understanding of binomial probability theory. The VSVT's reliability and validity is inherent in its use of binomial probability theory, which has been used in many other well known symptom validity tests, and recent studies have demonstrated the VSVT's ability to detect response bias or malingering. Therefore, the VSVT likely meets the new Daubert standards for the admissibility of scientific evidence presented in a courtroom. Recent studies have also identified empirically validated cut-off scores for the VSVT that may further serve to enhance its sensitivity.