Factitious Disorder

Factitious Disorder is defined by intentional efforts to falsify an illness in oneself or another. Manufacturing an injury in oneself or another might also be performed. The individual’s identity is wrapped up in being someone who is ill, impaired, or injured. These efforts are maintained in the absence of obvious external rewards (e.g., money).

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