Evaluation of the Atypical Response scale of the Trauma Symptom Inventory-2 in detecting simulated posttraumatic stress disorder

This investigation evaluated the Atypical Response (ATR) scale of the Trauma Symptom Inventory – 2nd edition (TSI-2) in terms of its ability to distinguish genuine symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from simulated PTSD. Seventy-five undergraduate students were trained to simulate PTSD and were given monetary incentives to do so. Their responses on the PTSD Checklist (PCL), TSI-2 ATR, and Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) validity scales were compared to responses of 49 undergraduate students with genuine symptoms of PTSD instructed to respond honestly on testing. Results indicate that the revised version of the ATR is superior to the original version in detecting malingered PTSD. Discriminant Function Analyses revealed correct classification of 75% of genuinely distressed individuals and 74% of PTSD simulators.