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Article: Malingering
- Article from:
- Complete Human Diseases and Conditions
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Malingering
Why Do Some People Malinger?
Telling Malingering from a Real Illness
Malingering (ma-LING-er-ing) means intentionally pretending to be sick or injured to avoid work or responsibility. The illnesses faked may be physical, such as the flu, or mental, such as
depression*
. Similarly, a person may pretend to have severe back pain due to an injury. Sometimes a person may actually have a mild illness or injury and exaggerate the symptoms
* depression
- (de-PRESH-un) is a mental state characterized by feelings of sadness, despair, and discouragement.
KEYWORDS
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Deception
Factitious disorder
Faking illness
Munchausen ...