Malingering in clinical practice with specific reference to psychiatry and psychology.

Malingering is the intentional simulation of illness for an external gain.! It can occur in any medical illness and most clinicians will encounter this problem at some point in their clinical practice. Malingering occurs most often in a medicolegal setting where the external gain is monetary compensation for disability. However, in day-to-day practice most clinicians will probably be confronted with simulation in the context of avoiding work due to illness. Many clinicians may also experience the opposite situation, namely where patients try to hide illness or diminish the degree of symptoms in order to return to work or to qualify for an insurance policy.