Factitious disorder
Factitious disorder (pronounced: fak-TISH-us dis-OR-der) is a mental disorder in which a person acts as if they have a physical or mental illness when they are not really sick. Factitious disorder is considered a mental illness because it is associated with severe emotional difficulties.
Etymology
The term "factitious" comes from the Latin word "facticius," which means "artificial" or "made by art." It was first used in the medical context in the late 19th century to describe symptoms that were produced or feigned for the purpose of assuming the sick role.
Definition
Factitious disorder is characterized by a person's deliberate and intentional actions to produce, feign, or exaggerate symptoms of illness or injury. The primary motivation for these actions is to assume the sick role and to gain attention, sympathy, or reassurance. Unlike malingering, where the person feigns illness for external benefits such as financial gain or avoiding work, in factitious disorder, the person's main motivation is to be seen as ill.
Types of Factitious Disorder
Factitious disorder can be classified into two main types:
- Factitious disorder imposed on self (previously known as Munchausen syndrome): This is where a person presents themselves as ill, impaired, or injured.
- Factitious disorder imposed on another (previously known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy): This is where a person produces or fabricates symptoms of illness or injury in another person under their care, such as a child or elderly adult.
Related Terms
- Malingering: Unlike factitious disorder, malingering is not considered a mental illness. People who malinger have an external motivation for their behavior, such as avoiding work or obtaining financial benefits.
- Somatoform Disorders: These are a group of psychological disorders in which a patient experiences physical symptoms that are inconsistent with or cannot be fully explained by any underlying general medical or neurological condition.
- Conversion Disorder: This is a mental condition in which a person has blindness, paralysis, or other nervous system (neurologic) symptoms that cannot be explained by medical evaluation.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Factitious disorder
- Wikipedia's article - Factitious disorder
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