The purpose of this paper is to provide psychiatrists with practical a
dvice on how to detect malingered mental illness. Various types of mal
ingering are defined and the five major purposes of malingering are sp
ecified. The research literature on malingering is reviewed. Clinician
s must be thoroughly grounded in the phenomenology of true mental dise
ase to detect malingering. Detailed information about hallucinations i
s reviewed so that faked hallucinations that do not follow typical pat
terns can be more easily identified. Strategies for approaching person
s suspected of malingering are suggested. Features of malingered mutis
m, mania, depression and mental retardation are described. The differe
ntial diagnosis of malingering, post-traumatic stress disorder, conver
sion disorder, and post-concussion syndromes after trauma is discussed
. Clues to malingered psychoses and post-traumatic stress disorders ar
e delineated. Finally, specific indicators of malingered insanity defe
nses are identified.