Factitious Disorder
Factitious disorder is a serious mental disorder in which someone deceives others by appearing sick, by purposely getting sick or by self-injury. Factitious disorder also can happen when family members or caregivers falsely present others, such as children, as being ill, injured or impaired.
Cluster Number:
Wiki Number: W081
Diagnosis: Factitious Disorder (Munchausen Syndrome for self) and (Munchausen symptome by proxy for another)
US Patients:
World Patients:
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Brain Area:
Symptoms: person wanting a hospital stay pretends or exaggerates an illness even by contaminating samples, absesses,
Progression: Can become periodically or chronic as people age.
Causes: not malicious, but subconsciously wanting the attention they or another sick person got while hospitalized
Medications: SSRIs for mood stabilizers or antipsychotics
Therapies:
Youtube Video: Dirty Dozen on Factitious Disorder and Malingering
Amazon or Library Book: Factitious Disorders
Click the book to link or buy from Amazon.
4 CURRENT ARTICLES
FROM PUBMED
The world-wide medical research
reports chosen for each diagnosis
Clicking each title opens the
PubMed article’s summary-abstract.
- Inked with Melancholy Blues: A Case of Dermatitis Simulata Set in the Realm of Factitious Disordersby Paulomi K Vartak on March 24, 2025
No abstract
- An Unusual Case of Factitious Disorder Manifesting as Hypercalcemia Mediated by Exogenous Calcitriolby Bramara N Godasi on March 20, 2025
Excessive 1, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D (calcitriol) is a pathophysiological cause of hypercalcemia. This form of hypercalcemia is seen in autoimmune conditions, fungal infections, lymphoma, and rare genetic diseases. A factious disorder manifesting as intentional ingestion of calcitriol leading to hypercalcemia has not been previously reported. We report a case of a female in the fourth decade with recurrent episodes of hypercalcemia seen at multiple clinics across the United States over a period...
- Factitious Disorder in the Context of Abuse in an Adolescent: Importance of a Multidisciplinary Approachby Nicholas S McDuffee on March 6, 2025
No abstract
- Phenomenology of dissociative symptoms: A comparison between individuals with dissociative disorders and high and low dissociative schizophrenia spectrum disordersby V E de Vries on March 5, 2025
CONCLUSION: It can be stated that none of the dissociative and psychotic symptoms is specific to DDs or SSDs. Therefore it is advisable to be cautious with classifying based on the presence of (certain) symptoms. A transdiagnostic approach towards assessment and treatment, regardless of classification, is indicated.