Affiliations: VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Shane S. Bush, Ph.D., ABPP, 290 Hawkins Ave., Ste. B, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779, USA. Tel.: +1 631 334 7884; Fax: +1 631 980 3715; Neuropsych@ShaneBush.com
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Veterans with polytrauma have suffered injuries to multiple body parts and organs systems, including the brain. The injuries can generate a triad of physical, neurologic/cognitive, and emotional symptoms. Accurate diagnosis is essential for the treatment of these conditions and for fair allocation of benefits. To accurately diagnose polytrauma disorders and their related problems, clinicians take into account the validity of reported history and symptoms, as well as clinical presentations.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to describe the assessment of validity with polytrauma Veteran populations.
METHODS: Review of scholarly and other relevant literature and clinical experience are utilized.
RESULTS: A multimethod approach to validity assessment that includes objective, standardized measures increases the confidence that can be placed in the accuracy of self-reported symptoms and physical, cognitive, and emotional test results.
CONCLUSIONS: Due to the multivariate nature of polytrauma and the multiple disciplines that play a role in diagnosis and treatment, an ideal model of validity assessment with polytrauma Veteran populations utilizes neurocognitive, neurological, neuropsychiatric, and behavioral measures of validity. An overview of these validity assessment approaches as applied to polytrauma Veteran populations is presented. Veterans, the VA, and society are best served when accurate diagnoses are made.
