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DCT

The Dot Counting Test (DCT)

The Dot Counting Test (DCT) is a brief task that assesses test–taking effort in individuals ages 17 and older

  • Publisher
    WPS
  • Age range
    17+
  • Qualification Level
    N
  • Administration Time
    5 to 15 mins

Full Product Description

The Dot Counting Test (DCT) is a brief task that assesses test–taking effort in individuals ages 17 and older. This convenient instrument allows you to detect lack of effort on cognitive measures, whether it is intentional (malingering) or unintentional (unconscious).

The DCT measures an “overlearned” skill that is preserved in all but the most severe brain injuries. Because of this, a poor performance on the DCT suggests lack of effort. A validity study reported in the manual compared the DCT scores of 85 “suspect effort” patients (previously identified as “under attemptors” by rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria) to those of patients in seven “normal effort” diagnostic groups: Depression, Schizophrenia, Head Injury, Stroke, Learning Disability, Mild Dementia, and Nonclinical. This study verified the ability of the DCT to discriminate among patients based on their effort status.

In interpreting DCT results, you can select a cutoff score that minimizes false positives while maintaining adequate sensitivity to “suspect effort.” Simply compare the patient’s performance to that of a similar reference group.

The DCT is highly useful in any setting where examinees have external incentives to fabricate or exaggerate cognitive problems––personal injury litigation, disability evaluations, and criminal cases, for example. The test’s usefulness, however, reaches far beyond these situations. Routine assessment of effort often reveals unexpected features of other clinical complaints. For instance, patients who fail effort tests are sometimes found to have factitious or somatoform disorders. Even patients who have legitimate brain injuries sometimes exaggerate existing problems or fabricate new symptoms to ensure that their complaints are taken seriously.

Administered and scored in less than 10 minutes, the DCT can easily be added to routine assessment practice, rather than limited to forensic and disability cases. Its value in research is also apparent, especially in studies focusing on disorders that can’t be independently confirmed through laboratory or imaging tests.

 

Kit

DCT Kit

CODE: W-391

Includes Reusable Stimulus Booklet; 50 Record Forms; Manua

€282.32 Excl.VAT

Components

DCT Stimulus Booklet

CODE: W-391A

€106.15 Excl.VAT

DCT Record Form (Pad of 50)

CODE: W-391B

€73.32 Excl.VAT

DCT Manual

CODE: W-391C

€141.16 Excl.VAT

WPS Levels

Letter code: N

Degree

PHD: (clinical psychologist)

A doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, MD) in psychology or related field

Additional Training Required: None

OR

MA (psychologist, social worker)

A master’s degree (MA, MS, MSW) in fields listed above.

Additional Training Required: At least a weekend workshop on neuropsychological assessment

Products qualified to purchase

All products

Letter code: C

Degree

MA: (psychologist, SLP, OT)

A master’s degree (MA, MS, MSW, CAGS) in psychology, school counselling, occupational therapy, speech–language pathology social work, education, special education or related field.

Additional Training Required: None

OR

BA (occupational therapist)

A bachelor’s degree (BA, BS) in fields listed above.

Additional Training Required: License or certification for an agency/organisation that requires training and experience in assessment.

Products qualified to purchase

All products expect advanced psychiatric instruments and advanced neuropsychological instruments. 

Letter code: B

Degree

BA: (schoolteacher)

A bachelor’s degree (BA, BS) in psychology, school counselling, occupational therapy, speech–language, pathology, social work, education , special education, or related field

Additional Training Required: None

Products qualified to purchase

General screening, counselling, instructional materials, achievement tests.

Letter code: A

Degree

No degree requirement

Additional Training Required: None

Products qualified to purchase

Books and instructional materials only

 

 

 

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