Examples of Factitious Disorder Behavior:
- Reporting that one has a life-threatening illness, despite a lack of symptoms or ever receiving a diagnosis.
- Fabricating neurological complaints (e.g., dizziness, blacking out) in the absence of such symptoms in order to deceive others.
- Manipulating laboratory tests to signal abnormalities.
- Physically harming oneself to cause injury or illness.
- Harming someone else (e.g., child) in order to assume a victim role by proxy.
Similarities and Differences to Somatic Symptom Disorder, Illness Anxiety Disorder, and Conversion Disorder
Like the other group of Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders, Factitious Disorder has a somatic (bodily) component that is related to psychological functioning. However, in the case of Factitious Disorder, physical symptoms are not necessarily present; rather, the individual attempts to fabricate a story about them, or intentionally and deceptively induce such physical maladies. There is a clear intention to misrepresent, induce, simulate, or exaggerate such symptoms.
Material summarized from:
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.60