Ganser Syndrome Workup

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

Laboratory Studies

Standard medical workup should include the following:

  • CBC count with differential
  • Basic metabolic panel
  • Liver function test (and ammonia level if clinically indicated)
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
  • Thyroid function tests
  • Vitamin B-12 levels
  • Rapid plasma reagent (RPR) test
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Imaging Studies

Consider a CT scan or MRI to rule out possible cerebral pathology as indicated.

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Other Tests

An electroencephalogram can be performed to rule out seizure disorder or evidence of delirium.

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Procedures

Consider performing a lumbar puncture if clinically indicated since meningitis and encephalitis can cause the syndrome.

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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

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  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].

 
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