Feigned (malingered) insanity is a pretended mental illness, deliberately produced for personal gain. It must be distinguished from true insanity, a genuine mental disease.
Comparison
| Feature | True Insanity | Feigned Insanity |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Genuine mental disease | Pretended mental illness for personal gain |
| Onset | Gradual | Sudden |
| Motive | No motive | Clear motive usually present |
| Symptoms | Consistent and natural | Exaggerated and inconsistent |
| Behaviour | Continuous | Often observed only when watched |
| History of mental illness | Usually present | Usually absent |
| Sleep | Disturbed | Usually normal |
| Personal hygiene | Neglected | Usually maintained |
| Expression | Natural | Artificial or dramatic |
| Memory | Actually impaired according to disease | Selective impairment |
| Hallucinations / Delusions | Consistent with psychiatric disorder | Vague, absurd or inconsistent |
| Examination | Findings remain constant | Contradictions appear on repeated examination |
| Response to observation | Unchanged | Changes when unobserved |
| Course | Follows known psychiatric pattern | Does not follow disease pattern |