Malingering

Overview

4.6 out of 5 (42 Reviews)

Credits

1.00

Post-Assessment Questions

8

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

12 Apr 2026

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

60 Minutes


 
Need Help?  If you have a system or content concerns, please contact support@statpearls.com

Activity Description

Malingering involves the intentional fabrication or exaggeration of physical or psychological symptoms to obtain external incentives, such as financial compensation, avoidance of legal or occupational responsibilities, or access to housing or medications. This course examines malingering, which frequently complicates clinical evaluation, particularly in emergency, forensic, and disability settings, and its inconsistent, context-dependent presentation, which is influenced by secondary gain, requiring careful differentiation from factitious disorder and genuine medical or psychiatric conditions. This activity reviews behavioral patterns suggestive of malingering, structured and evidence-based assessment approaches, and unnecessary testing and iatrogenic harm. Participants will also gain an understanding of clinical observation, psychological testing, and interprofessional communication while maintaining a neutral, supportive approach. This activity for healthcare professionals is designed to enhance learners' competence in identifying malingering, accurately documenting, making ethical decisions, and implementing an appropriate interprofessional approach when managing this condition to optimize patient safety and resource utilization.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and social workers.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify clinical indicators that support consideration of malingering during evaluations.

  • Differentiate malingering from psychiatric diagnoses using evidence-based assessment strategies.

  • Implement neutral, nonjudgmental communication techniques that preserve the therapeutic relationship while addressing identify inconsistencies.

  • Coordinate with interprofessional healthcare teams in suspected malingering cases to enhance patient safety and reduce medicolegal risk. 

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.


As a Jointly Accredited Organization, StatPearls, LLC is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. StatPearls, LLC maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 continuing education credits.

Social Workers: StatPearls, LLC designates this continuing education activity for 1.00 ASWB ACE credit(s) for social workers. Social Workers should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the FDA. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

Michael P. on 9/25/2021

Jessica B. on 1/23/2022

Melinda N. on 1/25/2022

perhaps provide more real-world/practical answers and explanations

Gwendolyn R. on 1/27/2022

Emma P. on 1/27/2022

Justin M. on 1/30/2022

enkhoyun n. on 2/3/2022

Michael P. on 3/13/2022

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David G. on 10/19/2022

Douglas M. on 12/15/2022

Latoya R. on 2/6/2023

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coral c. on 5/4/2023

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