Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “MALINGERING”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 721 records · Page 40Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

A single case report of recurrent surgery for chronic back pain and its implications concerning a diagnosis of Münchausen syndrome.

While undergoing treatment in the psychiatric department, A.C., a 40-year-old white male, who had arrived in the casualty department complaining of an uncontrollable anxiety attack and in a state of fluctuating consciousness, was found to be suffering from a psychopathological condition characterized by pathological lying, gambling, compulsive restlessness, a long clinical history of chronic back pain, with multiple invasive diagnostic investigations and repeated surgery for disc hernia with relative complications, culminating in the fitment of a fixed neurostimulator, a slow-discharge morphine pump and the patient being granted a full disability pension. The continual increases in the doses of morphine suggested a tendency towards drug addiction. After providing a brief overview of the historical background and current concepts relating to the relationship between factitious disorders, malingering and hysteria, the authors discuss the differential diagnosis of the case, suggesting a diagnosis of Münchausen syndrome (the hypothesis best supported by the clinical evidence). This diagnosis, although the subject of much academic debate, is, unfortunately, still not frequently encountered in the medical literature, with the result that even today it has a strong clinical, relational and social impact.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Street traffic accident--whiplash injury of the cervical spine from the viewpoint of insurance medicine].

The Swiss Accident Insurance Institute (SUVA), as the largest mandatory insurer against accidents in Switzerland, handles approximately 3000 cases of injury to the cervical spine every year, half of which are the result of traffic accidents. A considerable proportion of these involve whiplash injuries to the cervical spine. Epidemiological and statistical results according to this medical definition and based on material collected over a period of several years are presented. The assessment of these cases from the medical insurance point of view is discussed. Mild whiplash injuries are very common and as a rule they heal without sequelae. Severe whiplash injuries with massive soft-tissue damage and fractures are rare and present few problems for the causality assessment. Problemtical, on the other hand, are the not infrequent cases of whiplash injuries which initially seem to be ordinary sprains but which subsequently develop into lasting clinical syndromes that are very difficult to objectify. Further, the assessment and care of these problem cases in particular are discussed from the medical insurance point of view. In these patients, who suffer severe pain and discomfort, it is in most cases not possible to obtain any objective findings with the classical diagnostic measures of radiology, orthopaedics and neurology. They can very soon be suspected of malingering, exaggeration or pension neurosis. Only with the very sophisticated, modern diagnostic methods of neuropsychology, chiropraxis and functional computed tomography is it sometimes possible to objectify these syndromes in a reproducible manner and possibly to establish a post-traumatic instability as the cause. This then again opens up promising possibilities for the treatment of these patients. The SUVA supports research aimed at developing and testing such promising new methods of examination. However, it at the same time warns against the uncritical use of these expensive methods of examination, the informative value and the scientific validity of which are in some respects still not sufficiently well established.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

Multiple personality and forensic issues.

As clinicians become more sophisticated regarding MPD, we can expect many more cases to come to the court's attention, especially among violent offenders. This is because violence and MPD have very similar origins in early extraordinary physical and sexual abuse. As offenders become more knowledgeable, we can also expect to encounter more and better malingering. At this time, however, we are far more likely to overlook the problem than we are to overdiagnose it. Why is it that MPD is recognized so infrequently in the offender population? Probably because so many of its characteristics are similar to the symptoms associated with antisocial personality. For example, amnesia for behaviors is dismissed as lying, fugue states appear to be attempts to evade justice; finding things in one's possession looks like stealing; self-mutilation and suicide attempts seem manipulative; and the use of different names at different times and in different circumstances is interpreted as the conscious use of aliases in order to evade the law. Even the dramatic, at times heart-wrenching emotional catharses relating to abuse revealed during hypnosis are so painful that the average person has difficulty accepting that they happened and, therefore, dismisses them as exaggeration or total fabrication. Most often, the diagnosis is missed because the clinician does not even consider it a possibility. In this article we have reviewed some of the ways in which courts have approached the issue of MPD and some of the problems specific to its diagnosis in forensic settings. The clinician must keep in mind that in cases in which issues of mental illness are raised, the law reflects that which it is taught by alleged experts. The case law on multiple personality is still sparse, leaving much room for new data and new interpretations of these data. The current tendency to treat each alternate as though it were a whole and responsible individual as opposed to an imaginary construct, a symptom of a mental illness, reflects the confusion among clinicians as well as attorneys regarding the phenomenon of MPD. As we continue to learn more about the disorder and its forensic implications, we must be careful to avoid presenting to the court clinical impression as fact or mythology as truth.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1989

Simulation of brain damage: assessment and decision rules.

The possibility of fabricated or exaggerated organic deficits is a frequent concern in both civil and criminal forensic cases. Additionally, organic deficits may exist, but be incorrectly attributed to a claimed cause. Exaggeration or fabrication can apply to primary cognitive or emotional effects of brain damage or to secondary emotional effects. These categories of deficits, and their relationship to physical brain damage, must be clearly understood in order to comprehensively evaluate the possibility of malingering. This includes evaluation of different forms of consistency between (1) behaviors during evaluation, (2) claimed deficits and known organic syndromes, (3) behavior or claims during evaluation and actual life-functioning, and (4) test performance and known principles of cognitive functioning. Psychometric procedures and clinical strategies are described which can substantially aid in assessing consistency and distinguishing between honest and exaggerated self-reports. Limitations of available assessment techniques are described and a general decision model for evaluation of dissimulation of organic deficits is presented.

Brain Injuries↗
PubMed1977

The pathology of self-mutilation and destructive acts: a forensic study and review.

Self-destructive behavior of man and its consequences may be presented in various forms, including self-mutilation, injury, and malingering, and with various manifestations, including the Munchausen syndrome, polysurgery, purposeful accidents, impotence, and frigidity. The general subject of focal suicide has been a relatively unknown and unrecognized entity for different reasons, including the fact that most physicians are trained to approach a case in a manner which treats the patient-physician relationship as one of honor and faith regarding the authenticity of the complaints of the patient. The maturity of years and experience may be required before the physician becomes aware of the motivation of patients' behavior. It is hoped that this article will provide new insight into areas which may be unfamiliar to the forensic practitioner and clinician but which might enable them to learn about the background of an unexpected death or the possibilities of motivation in civil suits alleging professional negligence or malpractice.

Forensic Medicine↗
PubMed1988

Chronic upper limb pain syndrome (repetitive strain injury) in the Australian workforce: a systematic cross sectional rheumatological study of 229 patients.

The epidemic of chronic upper limb pain is the most important and controversial issue in industrial rheumatology in Australia today. Two hundred and twenty-nine consecutive patients referred with chronic upper limb pain which had been labelled "repetitive strain injury" or "overuse syndrome" were assessed according to a protocol designed to give insight into the questions: Is the pain genuine or falsely reported, i.e., malingering? If genuine is it due to a physical injury, a pain syndrome, or a mixture of both? Twenty-nine patients fulfilled criteria for specific rheumatological diagnoses (fibrositis 15, rotator cuff syndrome 3, rheumatoid arthritis 3, cervical referred pain 3, lateral epicondylitis 2, de Quervain's tenosynovitis 1, carpal tunnel syndrome 1, and psoriatic monoarthritis 1). In the remaining 200 (mean age 37 years, range 19-58, 91.5% female) many different pain patterns and nonspecific associated symptoms were recorded. Eighty-nine percent had greater than or equal to 2 Smythe tender points, 1.5% had 1 tender point, and 9.5% had no tender point. Diffuse pain and greater than 7 tender points is sufficient to diagnose fibrositis, and localized pain and a smaller number of tender points strongly suggests a genuine chronic rheumatic pain syndrome. Stress, personal susceptibility and poor motivation appeared important in some cases. The liberal workers' compensation system, early labeling as repetitive strain injury, and social acceptability appeared important in the development of the epidemic.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Assessment of malingerers' visual acuity by Lotmar's visometer test.

The authors, after having mentioned several methods to detect malingering, have attempted to demonstrate the reliability of Lotmar's visometer test in assessing the real visual acuity of ten malingerers (five of whom denied bilateral vision). The authors confirmed their data with several other subjective and objective methods that demonstrated the reliability of the visometer test.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1986

[The simulation of mental disorders. 2. Other psychopathological and psychosociodynamic aspects].

The output and presentation of unauthentic symptoms, or more or less roughly exaggerated, effected intentionally, can only create conceptual and semantic difficulties to the observer when, well informed by the context, he suspects a utilitarian objective from the individual person. The problem of malingering, seed of pathology, refers to questions on the expert's role and his way of collaboration with the petitioning authority.

Communication↗
PubMed1985

A clinical approach to the somatizing patient.

Patients with chronic, unexplained physical complaints are evaluated diagnostically in two steps in primary care: (1) brief consideration of three specific, but rare, disorders (somatic delusion, conversion, and malingering); and (2) extensive consideration of the remaining three common but overlapping disorders (somatization disorder, hypochondriasis, and psychogenic pain). Because of frequent confusion in differentiating among the common somatizing disorders and because the treatment is similar for all, the family physician can be content with the general designation of "common somatization syndrome" when unable to distinguish among them. This diagnosis can be easily established by a good history and physical examination. Psychiatric referral is required for the rare somatizing disorders. The primary physician can manage the majority of the common somatizing patients by observing the following principles: develop a good physician-patient relationship, apply techniques of behavior modification, engage the patient at the somatic level but extend it to include associated life stresses, strategically use symptomatic measures, treat depression with full doses of antidepressants, and accept the importance of ongoing contact with the patient irrespective of symptoms. When these therapeutic principles are employed, decreased morbidity, medical utilization, and cost can be expected to follow.

Appointments and Schedules↗
PubMed1979

Detecting non-valid hearing tests in industry.

As greater numbers of workers come under industrial hearing conservation programs, the problem of nonorganic hearing loss is become critical. The potential malingerer can be identified by behavioral observations both before and during the testing of hearing and by an analysis of test results. Manual, self-recording, and microprocessor audiometry all incorporate validity and reliability checks which assist in detecting the malingerer. Methods of documenting inaccurate hearing tests are detailed, along with ways of obtaining accurate follow-up tests. The key to alleviating the problem of malingering is early detection and immediate resolution of the problem.

Audiometry↗
PubMed1982

Diagnosis and prognosis in compensation claims.

Psychiatric syndromes following compensable injury are not unusual in surgical practice. All such patients show exaggeration of their symptoms; compensation neurosis and malingering in particular are difficult to separate clinically. The signs and symptoms are reviewed. The prognosis has been assessed in 52 cases of compensation neurosis/malingering; remission of symptoms was usual except for spinal injuries, but return to previous occupation was not common and, despite the triviality of 70% of the injuries, 73% of the patients were off work for more than 6 months. The factors affecting prognosis are discussed, but the effect of legal settlement of claims could not be assessed accurately.

Disability Evaluation↗
PubMed1983

[Recurring pseudo-urolithiasis].

We report about a case with simulated recurrent urolithiasis. The patient introduced foreign bodies (gypsum) into the bladder. Often the stones had to be removed from the bladder and the right refluxing ureter. The diagnosis of the foreign bodies was made after 2 years of malingering by X-ray diffraction (analysis: gypsum = CaSO4 . 2 H2O).

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Munchausen's disorder: a case of a factitious neurological emergency.

Few signs are more ominous than the dilated pupil which is unreactive to light. The deliberate use of this fact and the simulation of other neurologic signs to enhance the aura of a serious illness will often expose a patient to hazardous procedures. A patient with Munchausen's Disorder who made unsuccessful attempts to simulate a neurological emergency is presented. A thorough knowledge of the pathophysiology of neurologic disease will enable the physician to detect the possibility of malingering when confronted with this problem. A strong cholinergic solution will produce pupillary constriction in normals and neurologic disorders but often will not alter the pupil in cases of pharmacologic pupillary paralysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Forensic neuropsychology: a selective introduction.

During the last decade, neuropsychology has emerged as one of the fastest growing disciplines within clinical psychology. One of the most important roles for neuropsychologists is their contribution to the forensic sciences. The present paper reviews how lawyers may best utilize the services of clinical neuropsychologists. Suggestions are also offered to neuropsychologists on how better to meet the needs of lawyers. The following forensic science issues are discussed: the legal framework in which neuropsychologists function; contributions psychologists may make towards answering basic medicolegal questions such as the elucidation of the nature, extent, and duration of head injury sequelae; criteria for acceptable neuropsychological reports; medicolegal aspects of severe head injury, minor head injury (posttraumatic syndrome), and pseudo-head injury (malingering). There are many causes of damage to the nervous system (for example, industrial toxins and medical malpractice) that are eligible for compensation. Examples will be confined to head injury since the basic forensic science principles remain the same, whatever the etiology of such brain damage.

Craniocerebral Trauma↗
PubMed1982

A computerized assessment program for forensic science evaluations: a preliminary report.

The development of the innovative use of an on-line, computer-assisted evaluation program is discussed, with a brief review of pertinent literature. The particular applications within a forensic psychiatric center of the Tandem 16 computer system, utilizing both "canned psychological tests" and specialized assessment techniques, are examined and highlighted with a case vignette. A highly relevant problem within forensic psychiatry, malingering or exaggeration of symptoms, is examined in more detail as it relates to computer assessments. The advantages and limitations of a computer-assisted evaluation are described relative to both its clinical and research application.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The psychological significance of somatic complaints.

Patients experiencing psychological distress often come to their physicians with primarily somatic complaints. While patients provide their physicians with multiple clues that there is a functional cause to their complaints, physicians often fail to recognize these. Psychological states, including depression, schizophrenia, hypochondriasis, malingering, conversion reactions, anxiety states, the "identified patient" in a dysfunctional family, and the patient with a "hidden agenda" are examples of this somatization process. Physicians may recognize these problems and avoid needless interventions if they consider these diagnostic possibilities and ask their patients questions that differentiate the various psychological possibilities.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The medical care abuser: differential diagnosis and management.

The differential diagnosis of patients who are abusive of or seem addicted to medical care is discussed using the approach outlined in the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual III of the American Psychiatric Association. These are generally chronic disorders and their managements, using the substance abuse/addiction model, are aimed at protecting both patients and physicians from unnecessary, expensive, and potentially lethal medical interventions. The disorders considered include somatization disorder (Briquet's syndrome), psychogenic pain disorder (psychalgia), hypochondriasis, factitious disorder, and malingering.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Misdiagnosis and labeling in psychiatry and their consequences: Part II].

The complexity of arriving at a correct psychiatric diagnosis in cases in which physical and mental disorders are interrelated is discussed. A case is presented in which a psychiatric diagnosis had been made and malingering suspected, although the patient actually had a severe neurological disorder. The psychiatric diagnosis had not been changed despite recurrent medical and psychological examinations which clearly indicated a physical disorder. The difficulties that follow misdiagnosing organic disorders as psychiatric disorders are illustrated. Various aspects of the effects of psychiatric misdiagnosis on functional, legal and civil aspects of life are discussed. Emphasis is given to the problems facing those discharged from military service for medical reasons, especially mental disorders. Important measures are currently being applied to overcome some of these problems. It is strongly emphasized that there is need for greater openness and tolerance among psychiatrists when making psychiatric diagnoses.

Adult↗