Malingering involves faking or exaggerating psychological or physical symptoms for secondary gain (e.g., financial compensation, avoiding work or legal consequences). It differs from factitious disorders, where individuals feign illness for psychological reasons (such as attention), rather than external incentives.
Key Points:
- Signs: Inconsistent symptom reports, lack of cooperation during evaluation, contradictory medical/psychological findings.
- Context: Often arises in legal settings or insurance cases.
- Clinical Challenges: Difficult to diagnose definitively because malingering is a motivation-based phenomenon, requiring careful assessment and collateral information.
- Approach: Psychological evaluations, structured interviews, validity tests, and consulting medical records can help differentiate malingering from genuine disorders.
