1) Assessment of effort is important in TBI clinical practice and research to generate valid data on patients' true cognitive capacities, as poor effort is common and can invalidate test results. 2) Formal effort tests should be integrated into evaluations to detect exaggeration and rule out other factors, given the effects of poor effort can dwarf those of mild TBI. 3) Various external incentives like compensation can adversely impact effort, so it is important to consider effort and response bias in clinical and research work involving people with TBI.

1. EFFECT OF EFFORT ON POST-TBI OUTCOMES RESEARCH: PRACTICAL AND RESEARCH IMPLICATIONS NATHAN D. ZASLER, MD CEO & MEDICAL DIRECTOR, CONCUSSION CARE CENTRE OF VIRGINIA AND TREE OF LIFE SERVICES CLINICAL PROFESSOR, PM&R, VCU, RICHMOND, VA., USA AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, PM&R, UVA, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA., USA CHAIRPERSON, IBIA

12. ADVERSE EFFECTS ON NEUROCOGNITIVE TEST PERFORMANCE

24. Join IBIA in Edinburgh, Scotland for the Ninth World Congress of the International Brain Injury Association March 21-25, 2012 Visit www.internationalbrain.org