The test of malingered incompetence (TOMI): A forced-choice instrument for assessing cognitive malingering in competence to stand trial evaluations

The TOMI consists of two 25-item, two-alternative, forced-choice scales - General Knowledge (TOMI-G) and Legal Knowledge (TOMI- L) - designed to detect malingered cognitive impairment in CST evaluations. The TOMI was derived and validated with a university sample (N = 242), with a cut score of < 21 providing maximum classification accuracy of hon est and dishonest respondents. Subsequently, the TOMI was administered to forensic inpatient residents (N = 30) and was compared to existing, well- established tests of malingering (the Rey-FIT and the TOMM). Results indi cated strong correlations and predictive agreement for both scales, and dis tinction between honest and probable dishonest respondents for the TOMI-L. A third study provided additional validation for the TOMI in distinguishing honest from dishonest student respondents (N = 120) and examined the ef fects of motivation on response style. For dishonest responders, those in the high motivation group scored significantly lower than those in the low moti vation group, further betraying their dishonesty. The utility of the TOMI as a useful, novel tool for forensic practitioners is discussed. Copyright 2008 American Journal of Forensic Psychology.