Inspired by this thread: How do the shrinks separate the truly schizophrenic or otherwise ill from really good actors? If a criminal studies mental illnesses in depth beforehand, memorizes and practices all the symptoms, and answers all the questions right “I DO hear voices in my head! All the fucking time!”, are there objective / neurological / chemical tests that psychologists can perform to gauge an individual for sure?
I think they are pretty good at spotting people who fake being insane. Other than that I guess each state has its standards.
I’ve heard contradictory claims on this, and both from the same person – a psychologist.
One claim is that a skilled shrink can spot a faker from a mile away.
The other claim was from a study. A bunch of fakers checked themselves into an institution. (For schizophrenics, I believe.) The staff was fooled. The other patients were not.
If you’re referring the [Rosenhan Experiment](http://en.wikipedia.org
/wiki/Rosenhan_experiment) (that is discussed in the documentary The Trap) I think that predates modern, more objective, psychiatric diagnosis techniques (such the the DSM), at least that was the point that documentary made. And they never actually “faked” any symptoms, other than telling the doctor that treated them that they once (and one time only) heard a voice in their head that said “Boink”. Other than that they acted completely sane, but were almost all commited.
Remember at the end of the day, you do not have convince a doctor of anything, you have to convince a jury. Presumably if you have a enough cash, and a good enough lawyer, he can find an “expert” to claim anyone is criminally insane (and conversely the prosecution can always find one to claim they aren’t).
I’d still be interested to know what the bulk of medical opinion is on this, or indeed if they have one.
I am indeed.
Thanks for the boink.