Known as malingering depression, it may occur as part of another condition and can be difficult to detect.
Many people with depression attempt to seem fine even though they are not.
Don’t dismiss someone just because they don’t “seem depressed” to you.
Instead, suggest they meet with a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment.
What Is Fake Depression?
Malingering is not considered a psychiatric condition.
It does share some similarities with what is known asfactitious disorder.
A factitious disorder involves faking symptoms of an illness without a clear motive or reward.
It is also important to distinguish malingering from somatic symptom disorder.
This is a condition where people become distressed about symptoms that may be imagined or exaggerated.
People may give inconsistent or overly intense descriptions of their symptoms to doctors.
What Causes Malingering Depression?
However, it is also important to recognize that it can sometimes occur as part of a real disorder.
Malingering may sometimes occur as a symptom ofantisocial personality disorder, for example.
How Is Malingering Depression Diagnosed?
Perhaps not surprisingly, malingering is often very difficult to detect.
A person can seem fine or even happy on the surface, while privately experiencing serious symptoms of depression.
Even though depression can be difficult to detect, you may be able to see some of its signs.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
People who are experiencing these signs may very likely have depression.
However, it is important to remember that you are only seeing a single moment in time.
While faking depression is certainly possible, remember that depression itself tends to be aninvisible illness.
Many of its symptoms are mental and emotional and its signs are not always obvious to the casual observer.
Then, when they are all alone, they fall apart.
Stigmaabout mental illnesses such as depression still exists.
Rather than treating people with suspicion, focus on being a source of support.
Encourage those who are showing signs of depression to seek out the treatment they need.
Leave the diagnosis to the professionals and focus on being a supportive friend.
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National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.
