The Ganser Syndrome: Evidence Suggesting its Classification as a Dissociative Disorder

Abstract

The past and present nosology of Ganser's syndrome is discussed. The anomaly is defined as the presence of approximate answers with hallucinations, clouded sensorium, somatic conversion, and amnesia. The characteristic symptom of the syndrome, paralogia, is appreciated as an associated feature of Factitious Disorder with Psychological Symptoms. It is suggested that Ganser syndrome may be linked inappropriately with the concept of factitious illness. Two new cases of the Ganser syndrome are presented, and an additional forty-one case reports are reviewed. A high correlation between the presence of paralogia and amnesia is revealed, which suggests that paralogia and related psychological symptoms are better classified as associated features of Atypical Dissociative Disorder.