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Investigating the M‐FAST: psychometric properties and utility to detect diagnostic specific malingering
Author(s) -
Guy Laura S.,
Kwartner Phylissa P.,
Miller Holly A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.706
Subject(s) - malingering , clinical psychology , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychology , psychiatry , medical diagnosis , bipolar disorder , psychometrics , internal consistency , medicine , mood , pathology
This study examined the ability of the M‐FAST to differentiate a group of undergraduate students simulating one of four DSM‐IV diagnoses ( n = 190; schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder) and a clinical comparison sample drawn from previous M‐FAST studies comprising individuals with the same diagnosis ( n = 142). Across all diagnostic conditions, the simulators obtained higher M‐FAST total scores than the clinical comparisons, and the rare combinations scale was equal or superior to the total score at differentiating the groups. The M‐FAST was most efficient at distinguishing feigned from bona fide schizophrenia. Although the internal consistency of the total score was high (α = 0.88), inter‐item correlations were lower than values reported in previous research. Lastly, given the importance of base rate considerations in the evaluation of diagnostic instruments, it was notable that the M‐FAST was able to identify malingerers even at relatively low base rates. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.