Validity of the continuous visual memory test (CVMT) after traumatic brain injury.

The criterion validity of the Continuous Visual Memory Test (CVMT) was investigated using a sample of 53 patients with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a demographically matched control group from the standardization sample. There was a statistically significant main effect of groups for both CVMT Total and Delayed Recognition scores ( p < .0001). Hierarchical linear regression analyses suggested that, in the clinical group, the effect of injury severity on the CVMT Total score was mediated by visuospatial ability. Logistic regression analyses revealed that the CVMT Total score correctly classified about three quarters of the combined participants, with slightly better specificity than sensitivity. It is concluded that the CVMT is a clinically useful instrument with satisfactory criterion validity but that it should not be used in isolation to determine the presence or absence of memory impairment.