Neurological Malingering

Book excerpt: Written from the viewpoint of the practicing clinician, this text is an indispensable addition to the library of anyone who is in the practice of medicine, osteopathy, or chiropractic, as well as for the judge, lawyer, or social worker who may interact with those presenting with the possibility of malingering. Other topics discussed include Waddell’s Signs, the Pinocchio Phenomenon, the Othello Error, the Menace Reflex, the Reliable Digit Span, Lombard’s Test, the Babinski Sign of the Eyebrow, the Hummel Double Conversation Test, the Swinging Story Test, the Judd-Persaud Test, the Teal Test, the Chimani-Moos Test, the Occlusion Effect, the Drop Arm Test, the Drop Leg Test, the Honest Palm Sign, the Elbow-Flex-Ex Sign, Beevor's Sign, Schober's Test, the Babinski Trunk-Thigh Test, and the Barré Test. Advance praise for Neurological Malingering "Dr. Hirsch’s book is long overdue and covers a critical topic of concern to all medical practitioners. This comprehensive treatise is a must for all physicians, psychologists, and others who work with patients who have incentive to gain from the system. Multiple topics related to malingering are presented in 16 straightforward chapters never before compiled in a single volume. I recommend this book highly to anyone concerned about malingering and its impact on the medical system." - Richard L. Doty, PhD, FAAN, Professor and Director, Smell and Taste Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania "Malingering affects not only the malingerers, but the persons and institutions around them as well. As a lay person, the readings have certainly made me considerably more sensitive to suspect behavior. And where knowledge of the underlying condition can affect relationships or transactions one is associated with, it is certainly useful to not only recognize its existence, but also to put it within the context of the challenges that it presents to those relationships or transactions. I count the time spent reading this most comprehensive work as well spent. I would further recommend it to others whose interests, decisions and/or professional pursuits could very well be affected by malingering, whether the behavior is or is not purposeful." - Judge Stephen A. Schiller (Retired), Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois