Ganser syndrome is a feature of ?
a) OCD
b) Conversion disorder
c) Dissociative disorder
d) Schizoid personality disorder
Correct Answer - C
Ans. is ‘c’ i.e., Dissociative disorder
Dissociative disorder
The essential feature of the dissociative disorder is a disruption in
the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity
or perception of the environment. Dissociative disorder are :-
- Dissociative (psychogenic) amnesia :- It is the most common type of
dissociative disorder. Dissociative amnesia is characterized by
retrograde amnesia (inability to retrieve stored memories and events
leading up to onset of amnesia) and absence of antegrade amnesia
(inability to form new long term memories). - Dissociative fugue :- A dissociative fugue may be present when a
person impulsively wanders or travels away from home and upon
arrival in the new location is unable to remember his/her past (i.e.,
amnesia for early life). There is loss of personal identity and the
person assumes a new identity. There is absence of awareness of
amnesia during fugue episode, i.e., Patient denies any memory loss
during fugue state. On recovery there is amnesia for fugue episodes
and recovery of memory of earlier life (i.e., before the episode of
fugue). - Dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder) :- More
than one personality appears to possess the individuals, Showing
their characteristic behavior. At any instance behavior and memories
of one personality is exhibited, patient then is unaware of the other’s
existance. - Depersonalization disorder : - Feeling of detachment from self is
referred to as depersonalization. Individuals with this disorder will
report feeling as if they are living in a dream or watching themselves
on movie screen i.e., feeling detached from self and as if one is an
outside observer of oneself. People with this disorder feel like they
are “going crazy” and they frequently become anxious and
depressed - Dissociative disorders not otherwise specified :- These are the
disorders that are characterized by dissociative response that do not
meet diagnostic criteria for one of the other dissociative disorder.
Important ones are :-
Dissociative Trance (Possession) disorders :- There is temporary
exchange of person’s personality by a new personality usually
attributed to a spirit or divine power. Usually the person is aware of
the existance of the other, i.e., possessor (unlike dissociative identity
disorder).
Ganser’s syndrome : - Also known as syndrome of approximate
answers. This is characterized by giving approximate answers
together with a clouding of consciousness, and frequently
accompanied by hallucinations and other dissociative, somatoform
or conversion symptoms.