What is Ganser Syndrome?
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.
It is also sometimes called nonsense syndrome, balderdash syndrome, syndrome of approximate answers, pseudodementia, hysterical 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.
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.
Causes
Common Causes and Risk factors of Ganser Syndrome
- Extreme stress.
- Alcohol.
- Head injury.
- Stroke.
- Smoking.
Signs and Symptoms
Common Sign and Symptoms of Ganser Syndrome
- Amnesia after illness.
- Confusion.
- Hallucinations.
- loss of memory
- Precipitating stress.
- Loss of personal identity.
- Echolalia and echopraxia.
Treatment
Common Treatment for Ganser Syndrome
- Supportive psychotherapy (a type of counseling), and monitoring for safety and a return of symptoms are the main elements of therapy for Ganser syndrome.
- Medicine is also useful for Ganser syndrome such as,low-dose benzodiazepines and antipsychotic medications have been used with limited success.
- Psychopharmacological interventions should be used with caution because they could result in masking an underlying organic disease.
References: health-disease.org
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