VALIDATION OF THE MILLER FORENSIC ASSESSMENT OF SYMPTOMS TEST (M-FAST) IN A CIVIL FORENSIC POPULATION

The Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test (M-FAST) is a relatively new measure shown to be a valid and effective tool for screening psychiatric malingering in criminal forensic and psychiatric inpatient settings. The present study attempts to cross-validate the M-FAST in civil forensic and neurologic samples. Three-hundred-eight civil forensic patients referred by their attorneys for neuropsychological testing were studied. Assessment batteries administered included tests of both psychiatric and neurocognitive feigning. Based on these gold standards, 4 sets of contrasts were formed in order to examine how the M-FAST performs in identifying psychiatric malingering, neurocognitive malingering, any malingering (including either or both types of malingering), as well as any malingering among a neurologic subset of this sample. At the level of group discrimination, the M-FAST Total score performed well in all contrasts. However, at the level of individual classification rates, although the M-FAST Total score was well supported for identifying psychiatric feigning, when neurocognitive malingering was present, performance dropped considerably. Thus, using the M-FAST recommended cutting score of 6, the M-FAST was able to successfully identify psychiatric malingering; however, the M-FAST is not an appropriate measure to use for identifying neurocognitive malingering within this sample.