Ganser Syndrome Treatment & Management

  • Author: Daniel Schneider, MD; Chief Editor: Eduardo Dunayevich, MD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 8, 2011
 

Medical Care

  • Inpatient treatment may be needed during the acute phase. This is often necessary to protect the patient from himself or herself considering his or her dissociation. Treat any underlying medical conditions.
  • Admit the patient to a psychiatric facility if the patient is a danger to self or others.
  • Simple supportive psychotherapy and monitoring for safety are the chief components of treatment. Limited evidence exists that hypnosis or ECT may be useful.
  • Recovery usually is within days for most patients, especially if precipitating stress resolves.
Next

Consultations

  • Consultation with a neurologist is advisable to rule out neurologic etiologic factors.
  • Consultation with a psychiatrist is recommended initially and in follow-up.
Previous
Next

Activity

  • Restrict general activity to allow close observation during the acute phase of the syndrome.
  • Upon recovery, regular activities may be resumed.
Previous
Proceed to Medication
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Daniel Schneider, MD  Movement Disorders Fellow, Center for Parkinson's Disease and Other Movement Disorders, Columbia University Medical Center

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  Senior Fellow, Department of Behavioral Endocrinology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Alan D Schmetzer, MD  Professor Emeritus, Interim Chairman, Vice-Chair for Education, Associate Residency Training Director in General Psychiatry, Fellowship Training Director in Addiction Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine; Addiction Psychiatrist, Midtown Mental Health Cener at Wishard Health Services

Alan D Schmetzer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, American College of Physician Executives, American Medical Association, American Neuropsychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association, and Association for Convulsive Therapy

Disclosure: Eli Lilly & Co. Grant/research funds Other

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

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; Forest Labs None None; Pfizer Grant/research funds Speaking and teaching; Northstar None None; Novartis Grant/research funds research; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Sunovion Speaking and teaching; Otsuke Grant/research funds reseach; GlaxoSmithKline Grant/research funds research; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief 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.

Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Can M Savasman, MD to the development and writing of this article.

References

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

  2. Ruggles AH. Observations on Ganser's Syndrome. American Journal of Insanity. 1905;62:307-311.

  3. Enoch MD, Trethowan WH. The Ganser syndrome. Uncommon Psychiatric Syndromes. 1979;50-62.

  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].

  7. Carney MW, Chary TK, Robotis P. Ganser syndrome and its management. Br J Psychiatry. Nov 1987;151:697-700. [Medline].

  8. Dalfen AK, Anthony F. Head injury, dissociation and the Ganser syndrome. Brain Inj. Dec 2000;14(12):1101-5. [Medline].

  9. Epstein RS. Ganser syndrome, trance logic, and the question of malingering. Psychiatric Annals. Apr 1991;21(4):238-44.

  10. Ladowsky-Brooks RL, Fischer CE. Ganser symptoms in a case of frontal-temporal lobe dementia: is there a common neural substrate?. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. Sep 2003;25(6):761-8. [Medline].

  11. Lee HB, Koenig T. A case of Ganser syndrome: organic or hysterical?. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. Jul-Aug 2001;23(4):230-1. [Medline].

  12. McEvoy, Campbell T. Ganser-like signs in carbon monoxide encephalopathy. Am J Psychiatry. Dec 1977;134(12):1448-9. [Medline].

  13. Miller P, Bramble D, Buxton N. Case study: Ganser syndrome in children and adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. Jan 1997;36(1):112-5. [Medline].

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

  15. Sigal M, Altmark D, Alfici S. Ganser syndrome: a review of 15 cases. Compr Psychiatry. Mar-Apr 1992;33(2):134-8. [Medline].

  16. Tost H, Wendt CS, Schmitt A, Heinz A, Braus DF. Huntington's disease: phenomenological diversity of a neuropsychiatric condition that challenges traditional concepts in neurology and psychiatry. Am J Psychiatry. Jan 2004;161(1):28-34. [Medline].

 
Previous
Next
 
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.