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Investigation of the ECST-R as a Measure of Competence and Feigning

NCJ Number
230556
Journal
Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: March - April 2010 Pages: 91-106
Author(s)
Kerri A. Norton, M.A.; Nancy L. Ryba, Ph.D.
Date Published
April 2010
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examines the effectiveness of the Evaluation of Competency to Stand Trial-Revised (ESCT-R), a recently developed competency assessment instrument.
Abstract
Competency to stand trial is the most commonly raised psycholegal issue. Evaluations of a defendant's competency must be as accurate and complete as possible, and clinicians must be careful to screen for feigned incompetence. The Evaluation of Competency to Stand Trial-Revised (ECST-R), a recently developed co-mpetency assessment instrument, assesses the constructs of both competence and feigning. The present study provides further validation research on the ECST-R by comparing the performance of honest responders and coached feigners. Results support the discriminant validity of the ESCT-R and homogeneity of individual scales. This study supports use of the competency scales and provides some support for the use of the feigning scales, although some caution is advised. Tables and references (Published Abstract)