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. 2022 Sep 1;35(3):155-168.
doi: 10.1097/WNN.0000000000000304.

BNT-15: Revised Performance Validity Cutoffs and Proposed Clinical Classification Ranges

Kaitlyn Abeare  1 , Laura Cutler  1 , Kelly Y An  2 , Parveen Razvi  3 , Matthew Holcomb  4 , Laszlo A Erdodi  1
Affiliations

BNT-15: Revised Performance Validity Cutoffs and Proposed Clinical Classification Ranges

Kaitlyn Abeare et al. Cogn Behav Neurol. .

Abstract

Background: Abbreviated neurocognitive tests offer a practical alternative to full-length versions but often lack clear interpretive guidelines, thereby limiting their clinical utility.

Objective: To replicate validity cutoffs for the Boston Naming Test-Short Form (BNT-15) and to introduce a clinical classification system for the BNT-15 as a measure of object-naming skills.

Method: We collected data from 43 university students and 46 clinical patients. Classification accuracy was computed against psychometrically defined criterion groups. Clinical classification ranges were developed using a z -score transformation.

Results: Previously suggested validity cutoffs (≤11 and ≤12) produced comparable classification accuracy among the university students. However, a more conservative cutoff (≤10) was needed with the clinical patients to contain the false-positive rate (0.20-0.38 sensitivity at 0.92-0.96 specificity). As a measure of cognitive ability, a perfect BNT-15 score suggests above average performance; ≤11 suggests clinically significant deficits. Demographically adjusted prorated BNT-15 T-scores correlated strongly (0.86) with the newly developed z -scores.

Conclusion: Given its brevity (<5 minutes), ease of administration and scoring, the BNT-15 can function as a useful and cost-effective screening measure for both object-naming/English proficiency and performance validity. The proposed clinical classification ranges provide useful guidelines for practitioners.

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Conflict of interest statement

K.Y.A., L.A.E., and M.H. provide forensic consultation and medicolegal assessments, for which they receive financial compensation. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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    1. Abeare K, Romero K, Cutler L, et al. 2021. Flipping the script: measuring both performance validity and cognitive ability with the forced choice recognition trial of the RCFT. Percept Mot Skills. 128:1373–1408. doi:10.1177/00315125211019704 - DOI

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