DEFROCKING THE FRAUD - THE DETECTION OF MALINGERING

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.