A group of disorders characterized by intentional production or feigning of physical or psychological symptoms or signs related to a need to assume the sick role. No obvious secondary gain, such as economic support or obtaining better care, is usually noted. The symptoms produced may be predominantly psychological, predominantly physical, or a combination of both. An example is munchausen syndrome, a factitious disorder with physical symptoms, or ganser syndrome, a factitious disorder with psychological symptoms.
Disorders characterized by physical or psychological symptoms that are intentionally produced or feigned.
A disorder in which the person’s physical or psychological symptoms appear under voluntary control and are adopted merely to assume the role of a sick person. This condition is not voluntary and implies a severe disturbance, malingering.
Physical and/or psychological symptoms that are consciously fabricated by the patient; pretending to be sick (often with symptoms that are difficult to evaluate).
The intentional feigning or production of physical or psychological symptoms out of a deep-seated need to assume the sick role. A person with factitious disorder may make up the complaint and support it with lies and fabrications or inflict injuries on his or her own body, such as injecting saliva under the skin to produce abscesses. In some cases, psychological complaints are the main concern; in others, physical complaints predominate; in yet others, both physical and psychological symptoms appear. The motivation of a factitious disorder is not to gain some advantage, such as avoiding jury duty or military service. Rather, the individual has an unconscious need to be cared for as a sick person. The disorder may cause the person to seek unneeded medical tests and exploratory surgeries. Factitious disorder is thought to be rare and to occur more commonly in males than females.
A disorder that is not real, genuine, or natural. The symptoms, physical and psychological, are produced by the individual and are under voluntary control. These symptoms and the behavior are used to pursue a goal (i.e., to assume the role of patient and to stay in a hospital). This is attained by various means, such as taking anticoagulants or other drugs when they are not needed, or feigning pain with nausea and vomiting, dizziness, fainting, fever of unknown origin, or other illnesses. Psychological symptoms may include feigned memory loss, hallucinations, and uncooperativeness. Affected patients have a severe personality disturbance.
An affliction characterized by the ability to consciously regulate both physical and psychological manifestations.
A collection of disorders exists in which a patient’s symptoms imitate those of a genuine illness, but these symptoms have been fabricated by the patient and are within their control. No apparent underlying cause is evident, except for a desire for attention. The motivation behind assuming the role of a patient may be to seek care and protection, possibly as a means of escaping everyday life.
Munchausen’s syndrome is the most prevalent disorder of this nature and is characterized by the presentation of physical symptoms. Those affected may exaggerate existing physical issues or even cause self-injury. In contrast, Ganser’s syndrome involves psychological symptoms. Factitious disorders are distinct from malingering, where a person feigns illness for a specific purpose, such as obtaining time off work.