Malingering

[VamPyroX]

Malingering is not a psychosomatic illness.

Malinger is a simple verb... no illness, no disorder, nothing... just an action of faking an illness or something to avoid doing something.

It's a form of deception. I lied to my boss by telling him that I had a cold so that I wouldn't have to go to work. I was malingering.

 

[jillio]

Malinger is a simple verb... no illness, no disorder, nothing... just an action of faking an illness or something to avoid doing something.

It's a form of deception. I lied to my boss by telling him that I had a cold so that I wouldn't have to go to work. I was malingering.

Exactly. And when it becomes of a severe nature, or a way of life, it is usually connected to a diagnosable personality or mental disorder. The issue is one of degree. I doubt that there are many adults that cannot say they have lied or exaggerated symptoms of an actual illness to get out of a day of work or not do something they didn't want to do.

And yes, malinger is a simple verb. But malingerer is a noun.

 

[Nika]

Quite simple really. Educating yourself on your diagnosis from a doctor is responsible. Reading medical texts and doing research in order to attempt to present symptoms that are convincing of having an illness that does not exist is malingering.

That makes sense.

Although we should acknowledge that some people just have a curiosity and therefore learn a lot about medical stuff. Hear Again, my girlfriend, for example. Neither of them are malingerers but they are very interested in medicine in general. I also enjoy reading medical journals since I find them much more interesting than novels.

So essentially a medically curious person does not a malingerer make.

 

[Babyblue]

Exactly. And when it becomes of a severe nature, or a way of life, it is usually connected to a diagnosable personality or mental disorder. The issue is one of degree. I doubt that there are many adults that cannot say they have lied or exaggerated symptoms of an actual illness to get out of a day of work or not do something they didn't want to do.

And yes, malinger is a simple verb. But malingerer is a noun.

I have lied before and called in sick. When I was not acutally sick. I just simply wanted a day off to have more fun. I malingered before.

But the chronic cases is what we are actually discussing. The ones that goes and lives it day to day lying about illnesses for attention. But I do not strive on it. I do not live it day to day to get attention nor I am doing it for attention. I was simply doing it to get a day off.

I think Malingering should be more specific or catergorized.

 

[VamPyroX]

I have lied before and called in sick. When I was not acutally sick. I just simply wanted a day off to have more fun. I malingered before.

But the chronic cases is what we are actually discussing. The ones that goes and lives it day to day lying about illnesses for attention. But I do not strive on it. I do not live it day to day to get attention nor I am doing it for attention. I was simply doing it to get a day off.

I think Malingering should be more specific or catergorized.

If it was categorized, then there's another word for it.

For instance, if you were malingering for attention... it wouldn't really be malingering, it would be something else.

Malingering is a type of lie.

 

[Babyblue]

If it was categorized, then there's another word for it.

For instance, if you were malingering for attention... it wouldn't really be malingering, it would be something else.

Malingering is a type of lie.

Then what would you consider the ones that constantly go to MD,s due to wanting to have an illnesses. The ones that constantly fake the illness for attention?

I did NOT lie to get attention. I lied to get a day off.

So how would you differ the difference. Are they just like us? To lie to our boss to get a day off?

 

[Babyblue]

Then what would you consider the ones that constantly go to MD,s due to wanting to have an illnesses. The ones that constantly fake the illness for attention?

I did NOT lie to get attention. I lied to get a day off.

So how would you differ the difference. Are they just like us? To lie to our boss to get a day off?

Ok I have re read your post.

I agree. I'm embarrassed. but I do see what you are saying now.


Sorry!!

 

[VamPyroX]

Then what would you consider the ones that constantly go to MD,s due to wanting to have an illnesses. The ones that constantly fake the illness for attention?

I did NOT lie to get attention. I lied to get a day off.

So how would you differ the difference. Are they just like us? To lie to our boss to get a day off?

That would still be malingering. Malingering is lying about health problems for a reason. Like lies, we can't determine 100% why it was done. So, we simply say that the person lied or was malingering.

If a person kept going to a doctor complaining of health problems when there aren't really any, then the doctor would start labeling that person as a hypochondriac.

 

[Babyblue]

That would still be malingering. Malingering is lying about health problems for a reason. Like lies, we can't determine 100% why it was done. So, we simply say that the person lied or was malingering.

If a person kept going to a doctor complaining of health problems when there aren't really any, then the doctor would start labeling that person as a hypochondriac.

seek the post after the one you quoted.

 

[jillio]

That makes sense.

Although we should acknowledge that some people just have a curiosity and therefore learn a lot about medical stuff. Hear Again, my girlfriend, for example. Neither of them are malingerers but they are very interested in medicine in general. I also enjoy reading medical journals since I find them much more interesting than novels.

So essentially a medically curious person does not a malingerer make.

No, being medically curious does not make one a malingerer. Using that medical curiosity to attempt to fake symptoms of an illness, or to claim symptomology that does not exist, makes one a malingerer. I've already stated that.

Hear Again is medically curious, but her curiosity stems toward becoming informed regarding the illnesses that she has been diagnosed with, not toward creating false symptoms, or claiming that which is not present. She is simply being responsible for informing herself in regard to her illness and its treatment.

 

[jillio]

I have lied before and called in sick. When I was not acutally sick. I just simply wanted a day off to have more fun. I malingered before.

But the chronic cases is what we are actually discussing. The ones that goes and lives it day to day lying about illnesses for attention. But I do not strive on it. I do not live it day to day to get attention nor I am doing it for attention. I was simply doing it to get a day off.

I think Malingering should be more specific or catergorized.

Agreed. Malingering that is pathological to the point that one creates a sick identity for themselves, when in fact, there is no medical evidence that it exists, and much evidence that it doesn't, is the topic of discussion.

 

[jillio]

That would still be malingering. Malingering is lying about health problems for a reason. Like lies, we can't determine 100% why it was done. So, we simply say that the person lied or was malingering.

If a person kept going to a doctor complaining of health problems when there aren't really any, then the doctor would start labeling that person as a hypochondriac.

Actually, they wouldn't. Hypochondria is a very different issue than is malingering. Hypochondria is also a diagnosis in and of itself, and is considered to be a pyschosomatic disorder. There are several distinct differences between a hypochondriac and a malingerer.

 

[Hear Again]

This was also part of your quote so me, BabyBlue and Nika aren't entirely wrong after all.

i beg to differ. what you, nika and babyblue were contending is that malingering was a mental illness all its own when it is not.

 

[Hear Again]

Hear Again is medically curious, but her curiosity stems toward becoming informed regarding the illnesses that she has been diagnosed with, not toward creating false symptoms, or claiming that which is not present. She is simply being responsible for informing herself in regard to her illness and its treatment.

exactly.

there are 4 main reasons why i read medical journals:

1. to keep up to date on any research, medications and treatment protocols in regards to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia (since i have a schizophrenic form of bipolar).

2. to keep up to date on treatments as they relate to eye diseases and deafness since i used to work with the deafblind and plan to specialize in treating d/Deaf and deafblind patients once i practice psychiatry. (i also hope to start my own practice.)

3. to keep up to date on the above mentioned due to the fact that i will be majoring in psychology for my master's and psychiatry for my ph.d.

4. to inform others about the above on deafblind, deafness, bipolar and schizophrenia related message boards.

 

[dreama]

i beg to differ. what you, nika and babyblue were contending is that malingering was a mental illness all its own when it is not.

I can't speak for babyblue or Nika but I didn't mean to imply that.

Infact the people I feel most sympathy for are those that aren't 'malingering' at all in the true sense of the word but for what ever reason they are being ACCUSED OF MALINGERING.

For example people who suffer from depression which leads them to have a lot of psycosomatic ailments are often accused of malingering.

Also people with personality disorders. For example I knew this woman who claimed high rate disability benifits for a condition she didn't suffer from. She is more an example of a true malingerer I thing. I don't even think she bothered with doctors or shrinks etc...

Her attitude is because she was sexually abused in care, the state owed her money so she felt entitled to getting it any way she could. She also abused drugs and had a criminal record so how she managed to get the money for extra benifits I have no idea. She must have been able to convince them somehow though.

 

[typeingtornado19]

exactly.

there are 4 main reasons why i read medical journals:

1. to keep up to date on any research, medications and treatment protocols in regards to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia (since i have a schizophrenic form of bipolar).

2. to keep up to date on treatments as they relate to eye diseases and deafness since i used to work with the deafblind and plan to specialize in treating d/Deaf and deafblind patients once i practice psychiatry. (i also hope to start my own practice.)

3. to keep up to date on the above mentioned due to the fact that i will be majoring in psychology for my master's and psychiatry for my ph.d.

4. to inform others about the above on deafblind, deafness, bipolar and schizophrenia related message boards.

Hear again, I wish you luck with your degrees.

 

[Nika]

I am medically curious for many of the same reasons, Hear Again. <smile> I would like to go into body work and energy work. It's very useful to know the anatomy inside out as a body worker, and also to know a lot about the physiological aspects of diseases. Diseases have other aspects on in the spiritual realm and it's very cool to see the connections between the physical and spiritual.

 

[Hear Again]

Hear again, I wish you luck with your degrees.

thanks, typeingtornado! <smile> i wish you all the best with your asl studies as well!

 

[jillio]

I can't speak for babyblue or Nika but I didn't mean to imply that.

Infact the people I feel most sympathy for are those that aren't 'malingering' at all in the true sense of the word but for what ever reason they are being ACCUSED OF MALINGERING.

For example people who suffer from depression which leads them to have a lot of psycosomatic ailments are often accused of malingering.

Also people with personality disorders. For example I knew this woman who claimed high rate disability benifits for a condition she didn't suffer from. She is more an example of a true malingerer I thing. I don't even think she bothered with doctors or shrinks etc...

Her attitude is because she was sexually abused in care, the state owed her money so she felt entitled to getting it any way she could. She also abused drugs and had a criminal record so how she managed to get the money for extra benifits I have no idea. She must have been able to convince them somehow though.

I don't know about the U.K., but here in the states, no one ever receives benefits for a condition simply because they "say" they have it. It has to have diagnosed by a doctor, and proper documentation has to be submitted of both diagnosis and ongoing treatment. More often than not, the first diagnosis is challenged, and a diagnosis from a second, and often a thrird doctor is necessary to substantiate the first. Additionally, diagnosis alone is not enough to insure benefits. Functional assessments in light of that diagnosis are also performed.

 

[Hear Again]

jillio,

when it comes to mental illness, can functional assessments be done by a therapist or psychiatrist? what do they involve? giving a client a questionaire or asking their therapist and/or psychiatrist for documentation that outlines their ability or lack thereof to function in a real world environment?