Ganser Syndrome: Differential Diagnoses & Workup

References

1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2000.

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4. Snyder SL, Buchsbaum MS, Krishna RC. Unusual visual symptoms and Ganser-like state due to cerebral injury: a case study using (18)F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Behav Neurol. 1998;11(1):51-54. [Medline].

5. Merckelbach H, Peters M, Jelicic M, Brands I, Smeets T. Detecting malingering of Ganser-like symptoms with tests: a case study. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. Oct 2006;60(5):636-8. [Medline].

6. Andersen HS, Sestoft D, Lillebaek T. Ganser syndrome after solitary confinement in prison: a short review and a case report. Nord J Psychiatry. 2001;55(3):199-201. [Medline].

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14. Shorer CE. The Ganser Syndrome. British Journal of Criminology. Apr 1965;5:120-131.

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Further Reading

Keywords

Ganser syndrome, Ganser's syndrome, psychotic episodes, psychotic illness, psychosis, clouding of consciousness, inattentiveness, drowsiness, hysterical paralysis, hallucinations, hysteria, malingering, alcoholism, head injury, epilepsy, stroke, cerebral infection, dissociative disorder, factitious disorder, amnesia, psychosocial stress, vorbeireden, echolalia, echopraxia, confusion

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Daniel Schneider, MD, MA, Chief Resident, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Massachusetts
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Brian R Szetela, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School; Consulting Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Consultation - Liaison Service, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center
Brian R Szetela, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Psychiatric Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine, and Association for Convulsive Therapy
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert C Daly, MB, ChB, MPH, BCh, Senior Fellow, Department of Behavioral Endocrinology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Alan D Schmetzer, MD, Professor, Vice-Chair for Education, and Director of Residency Training, Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine
Alan D Schmetzer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Eduardo Dunayevich, MD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati; Clinical Research Physician, Neuroscience, Lilly Research Laboratories
Eduardo Dunayevich, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Psychiatric Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Harold H Harsch, MD, Program Director of Geropsychiatry, Department of Geriatrics/Gerontology, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Medicine, Froedtert Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin
Harold H Harsch, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Psychiatric Association
Disclosure: lilly Honoraria Speaking and teaching; BMS Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Forest Labs Honoraria Speaking and teaching; AstraZeneca Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Pfizer Grant/research funds Other; Northstar Grant/research funds Other; Novartis  Other; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

Stephen Soreff, MD, President of Education Initiatives, Nottingham, NH; Faculty, Metropolitan College of Boston University, Boston, MA
Stephen Soreff, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Mental Health Administration and American Psychosomatic Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.