Detecting deception of war-related posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

There is considerable concern about the ease with which posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms can be simulated, especially when compensation-seeking is a factor. The current study investigated whether the Morel Emotional Numbing Test (MENT) could discriminate between compensation-seeking and non-compensation-seeking war veterans: 49 compensation-seeking veterans and 70 veterans seeking treatment completed the MENT, an instrument aimed to detect overreporting of PTSD symptoms. Results showed that compensation-seeking war veterans scored significantly higher on the MENT than non-compensation-seeking war veterans. Also, the MENT's accuracy rates were very promising. This study shows that the MENT is an adequate tool for evaluating PTSD claims. We recommend using the MENT as a screening tool, whereby respondents above a certain cutoff should be evaluated more carefully to assess the degree to which their posttraumatic symptoms are genuine.

Keywords:

• PTSD
• posttraumatic stress disorder
• malingering
• trauma

Acknowledgments

The writing of this paper was supported in part by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research awarded to Elke Geraerts.