Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Background : As in many authorities, psychotic problems appear to be commuting. Claim of psychiatric disorder has become an important basis for offenders to defend themselves. Aim of this study was to investigate faking symptoms in forensic psychiatry evaluation of malingerers in Tehran.

  Methods: in a cross-sectional survey, in 1389, perpetrators with a judicial order were assessed by two psychiatrists, using American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 4th Edition (DSM-IV) standards for mental disorders at the Tehran center for forensic psychiatry. Forty one cases identified as malingerers and were evaluating in another specific conversation. Collected data analyzed with statistical methods and p<0.05 used for significance.

  Results: In this study, behavioral symptoms (75.6 %), Mood and affect symptoms (65.9%), cognitive function symptoms (56.1%), thought process symptoms (46.3%), perceptual disorder symptoms (34.1%) and thought content symptoms (19.5%) were observed respectively. Only thought process symptoms were significantly increased based on the educational level (p=0.045). There was no statistically significant difference among other groups.

  Conclusion: In general, simulating the symptoms of mental illness is more likely to be observed in low socioeconomic estates and many will attempt to mimic simple symptoms of behavioral as well as mood and affect disorders. Probably, intelligence and reasoning ability of defendants has a close relation to expressed symptoms that should be considered during psychiatric interview.