Ganser syndrome

Ganser syndrome

Infobox_Disease
Name = PAGENAME


Caption =
DiseasesDB = 31852
ICD10 = ICD10|F|44|8|f|40
ICD9 = ICD9|300.15
ICDO =
OMIM =
MedlinePlus =
eMedicineSubj = med
eMedicineTopic = 840
MeshID =

Ganser syndrome is a rare dissociative disorder previously classified as a factitious disorder. It is characterized by nonsensical or wrong answers to questions or doing things incorrectly, other dissociative symptoms such as fugue, amnesia or conversion disorder, often with visual hallucinations and a decreased state of consciousness. It is also sometimes called nonsense syndrome, balderdash syndrome, syndrome of approximate answers, pseudodementia or prison psychosis. This last name, prison psychosis, is sometimes used because the syndrome occurs most frequently in prison inmates, where it may represent an attempt to gain leniency from prison or court officials.

Ganser is an extremely rare variation of dissociative disorder. It is a reaction to extreme stress and the patient thereby suffers from approximation or giving absurd answers to simple questions. The syndrome can sometimes be diagnosed as merely malingering, however, it is more often defined as dissociative disorder.

Symptoms include a clouding of consciousness, somatic conversion symptoms, confusion, stress, loss of personal identity, echolalia, and echopraxia. The psychological symptoms generally resemble the patient's sense of mental illness rather than any recognized category. Individuals also give approximate answers to simple questions. For example, "How many legs are on a cat?", to which the subject may respond '3'.

The syndrome may occur in persons with other mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depressive disorders, toxic states, paresis, alcohol use disorders and factitious disorders. EEG data does not suggest any specific organic cause.cite journal |author=Cocores JA, Schlesinger LB, Gold MS |title=A review of the EEG literature on Ganser's syndrome |journal=International journal of psychiatry in medicine |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=59–65 |year=1986 |pmid=3522461 |doi=]

Overview

The original description by Sigbert Josef Maria Ganser in 1898 pointed out their hysterical twilight state. They may also describe hallucinations which are usually more than those in schizophrenia. They may also have disorders of sensation similar to those in conversion disorder. They may be inattentive or drowsy.

Some workers believe there is a genuine psychosis underlying this, others believe it is a dissociative disorder, while still others believe it is the result of malingering. Over the years, opinions have seemed to move from the first view more towards the last.

Ganser syndrome is currently classified under dissociative disorders, to which it moved in the DSM IV from the factitious disorders.

Diagnosis

According to the DSM-IV-TR, which classifies Ganser syndrome as a dissociative disorder, it is "the giving of approximate answers to questions (e.g. "2 plus 2 equals 5" when not associated with dissociative amnesia or dissociative fugue."American Psychiatric Association. "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders." 4th ed. Text rev. Washington, DC. American Psychiatric Association, 2000.]

Diagnosing Ganser syndrome is very challenging, not only because some measure of dishonesty is involved but also because it is very rare.

Usually when giving wrong answers they are only slightly off showing that the individual understood the question. For instance, when asked how many legs a horse has they might say, "five." Also, although subjects appear confused in their answers, in other respects they appear to understand their surroundings.

Treatment

Hospitalization may be necessary during the acute phase of symptoms, and psychiatric care if the patient is a danger to self or others. A neurological consult is advised to rule out any organic cause.cite journal |author=Carney MW, Chary TK, Robotis P, Childs A |title=Ganser syndrome and its management |journal=The British Journal of Psychiatry : the journal of mental science |volume=151 |issue= |pages=697–700 |year=1987 |pmid=3446318 |doi=]

Prevalence

The disorder is extraordinarily rare with fewer than 100 recorded cases. While individuals of all racial backgrounds have been reported with the disorder, there is a higher inclination towards males (75% or more). The average age of those with Ganser syndrome is 32 and it stretches from ages 15-62 years old. It has been reported in children.cite journal |author=Miller P, Bramble D, Buxton N |title=Case study: Ganser syndrome in children and adolescents |journal=Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=112–5 |year=1997 |pmid=9000788 |doi=]

The disorder is apparently most common in men and prisoners although prevalence data and familial patterns are not established.cite journal |author=Brugha T, Singleton N, Meltzer H, "et al" |title=Psychosis in the community and in prisons: a report from the British National Survey of psychiatric morbidity |journal=The American journal of psychiatry |volume=162 |issue=4 |pages=774–80 |year=2005 |pmid=15800152 |doi=10.1176/appi.ajp.162.4.774]

Eponym

It is named for Sigbert Ganser, who characterized it in 1898. [WhoNamedIt|synd|1351] [S. J. M. Ganser. Über einen eigenartigen hysterischen Dämmerzustand. Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten, Berlin, 1898, 30: 633-640.]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • GANSER (SYNDROME DE) — GANSER SYNDROME DE Syndrome psychique caractérisé par des réponses à côté: le sujet répond à la question qu’on lui pose comme si on lui en avait posé une toute différente. Le phénomène décrit, en 1897, par Sigbert Joseph Ganser (1835 1931) peut… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Ganser syndrome — Gan·ser syndrome gän zər or Gan·ser s syndrome zər(z) n a pattern of psychopathological behavior characterized by the giving of approximate answers (as 2 × 2 = about 5) and found in prisoners and in others who consciously or unconsciously seek to …   Medical dictionary

  • Ganser syndrome — a syndrome characterized by approximate answers, i.e. the patient gives grossly and absurdly false replies to questions, but the reply shows that the question has been understood. For example, the question “What colour is snow?” may elicit the… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • ganser syndrome — ˈgänz]ə(r) , ˈganz], ˈgan(t)s] noun Usage: usually capitalized G Etymology: after Sigbert Ganser died 1931 German psychiatrist : a pattern of psychopathological behavior (as verbal) characterized by the giving of approximate answers (as 2×2 .… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Ganser syndrome — n. factitious psychiatric disorder that a person (usually prisoner) adopts and gives absurd or wrong answers to questions (such as when asked how many legs a dog has, he might say: five , or if asked how much is 2x2, he might say 5 indicating… …   English contemporary dictionary

  • ganser syndrome — /ganzar sindr6wm/gaen(t)s3rV. A setting in which questions are given nonsensical answers from which a hidden relevancy may be inferred. This is observed in prisoners who wish to gain leniency by simulating mental clouding. Gantelope… …   Black's law dictionary

  • ganser syndrome — /ganzar sindr6wm/gaen(t)s3rV. A setting in which questions are given nonsensical answers from which a hidden relevancy may be inferred. This is observed in prisoners who wish to gain leniency by simulating mental clouding. Gantelope… …   Black's law dictionary

  • Ganser — may refer to:People*Helen Ganser, the first librarian at Millersville State Normal School *Sigbert Josef Maria Ganser (1853 1931), German psychiatrist *Marguerite Marge Ganser, and Mary Ann Ganser, members of the girl group the The Shangri… …   Wikipedia

  • Syndrome de Ganser — Classification et ressources externes CIM 10 F44.8 CIM 9 300.15 DiseasesDB …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Syndrome post-commotionnel — Classification et ressources externes CIM 10 F07.2 CIM 9 310.2 eMedicine …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”