title: Malingering and PTSD: detecting malingering and war related PTSD by Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test (M-FAST).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malingering is prevalent in PTSD, especially in delayed-onset PTSD. Despite the attempts to detect it, indicators, tools and methods to accurately detect malingering need extensive scientific and clinical research. Therefore, this study was designed to validate a tool that can detect malingering of war-related PTSD by Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test (M-FAST).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this blind clinical diagnosis study, one hundred and twenty veterans referred to War Related PTSD Diagnosis Committee in Iran in 2011 were enrolled. In the first step, the clients received Psychiatry diagnosis and were divided into two groups based on the DSM-IV-TR, and in the second step, the participants completed M-FAST.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The t-test score within two groups by M-FAST Scale showed a significant difference (t = 14.058, P < 0.0001), and 92% of malingering war-related PTSD participants scored more than 6 and %87 of PTSD group scored less than 6 in M-FAST Scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  M-FAST showed a significant difference between war-related PTSD and malingering participants. The ≥6 score cutoff was suggested by M-FAST to detect malingering of war-related PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, P,O, Box: 19395-5487, Tehran, Iran. kh_ahmady@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Khodabakhsh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Zeynab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lashani
authors.forename: Mohammad Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Afzali
authors.forename: S Abbas
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tavalaie
authors.forename: Jafar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mirzaee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare