Date of Award
8-2005
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Program
Psychology
Department
Psychology
Major Professor
Greve, Kevin
Second Advisor
Daniel, Jill
Third Advisor
Bianchini, Kevin
Abstract
Previous studies have reported that deficits in attention are often a common complaint in individuals suffering from pain and attentional impairment in patients with pain has been demonstrated on a variety of neuropsychological measures. Much of the research to-date, however, has not taken into account extraneous factors that may contribute to observed cognitive deficits. Using the California Verbal Learning Test - II, attention and memory performance was examined in two clinical populations (pain and mild traumatic brain injury) while controlling for effort using the Word Memory Test. Controlling for effort led to different explanations of poor performance on attention variables. While mild deficits were expected, and could be accounted for by psychological factors (i.e. somatization), extremely poor performance was more likely related to poor effort. The findings of this study strongly support the necessity of measuring effort during neuropsychological and pain psychological evaluations.
Recommended Citation
Curtis, Kelly, "Attention and Memory Dysfunction in Pain Patients While Controlling for Effort on the California Verbal Learning Test-11" (2005). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 288.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/288
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.