Abstract

A Review and Addition of Some Unusual Cases HERBERT WEINER M. C., U.S.A. 1 , and ALEX BRAIMAN M. D. 2 1 The Neuropsychiatry Division, Army Medical Service Graduate School, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington 12, D. C. 2 The Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and The Strong Memorial and Rochester Municipal Hospital, Rochester, N. Y. 1. Six cases of Ganser's syndrome are described, one occurring in a male prisoner, 5 occurring in civilian patients of whom 4 were women and one a man. 2. Three patients who are described in detail developed the syndrome intercurrently during other serious psychiatric illnesses. 3. It is pointed out that although the symptom of approximate answers has often been described as occurring in various entities, the syndrome as originally defined has rarely been so reported. 4. Certain clinical features are commented upon, in particular the coincidence with approximate answers of amnesia with loss of personal identity. 5. A possible explanation of some aspects of the Ganser syndrome is tendered.