title: [Dissociation (conversion) - malingering - antisocial personality disorder: differential diagnostic reflection on the basis of a case study].
abstract: In this case report we refer to the big challenge of making a diagnosis in a deliberate malingering in the field of mental disorders. We specifically describe the difficulty regarding the differentiation between a conversion disorder and malingering of a serial delinquent. For such a person avoiding criminal persecution is one of the most frequent reason to deceitfully simulate a mental illness. In this field, symptoms of conversion disorders exceed the average; furthermore, a great number of organic-neurological illnesses may appear to be very similar to a conversion disorder or in many cases a neurological disorder can actually be detected in the course of a somatic examination. A further obstacle for the differential diagnosis can be seen in the difficulty to discern it from factitious disorders. However, it is quite possible to discern the deliberate malingering of a mental disorder from a conversion disorder by means of the diligent diagnosis of a competent and experienced doctor/assessor who specialises.
authors.affiliation: Univ.-Klinik für Psychiatrie, und Psychotherapie I, Christian-Doppler-Klinik Salzburg, Austria. h.rothuber@salk.at
authors.forename: Helfried
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rothuber
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mitterauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D001317:Austria; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D009042:Motivation; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012951:Socialization; D053608:Stupor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D013800:Theft / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology