Malingering of memory impairment on the Colorado Priming Test

Objectives. We hypothesized that simulated malingerers would show a weaker priming effect and a longer response latency than control patients and patients with a brain injury on a priming test. Design. Participants were compared on their performance on the Colorado Priming Test to replicate and extend the original validation study. Methods. Of 33 participants, 16 were people with a brain injury and 17 were non-head injured control patients who were also instructed to feign cognitive impairment (simulators N = 17). Results. Up to 88 per cent of simulating malingerers and 75 per cent of head-injured participants were correctly classified. Conclusions. The Colorado Priming Test may be useful in identifying patients feigning memory impairment.