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[Artificial diseases (self-induced diseases)--a review]
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
Der Nervenarzt
|July 1, 1992
Summary
Factitious disorders involve feigning medical symptoms, posing challenges across specialties. An integrated treatment approach combining palliative, somatic, and psychotherapy is most effective for these complex conditions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Medical Specialties
Background:
- Factitious disorders are increasingly recognized across medical fields.
- These disorders present significant diagnostic and management challenges.
- Understanding factitious disorders is crucial for effective patient care.
Observation:
- Factitious disorders are characterized by the intentional production or feigning of physical or psychological symptoms.
- Four subtypes exist, all centered on the pretense or production of somatic and/or psychic symptoms.
- Disturbances in ego structure, self-perception, and body image are noted, alongside a pathognomonic disturbance in the doctor-patient relationship.
Findings:
- An integrated therapeutic approach, combining palliative measures, somatic therapy, and psychotherapy, appears most successful.
- Differential diagnosis requires careful delineation from other conditions involving self-destructive behaviors.
Implications:
- Improved diagnostic strategies are needed to identify factitious disorders accurately.
- Integrated treatment models offer a promising avenue for managing patients with factitious disorders.
- Further research into the underlying mechanisms and effective interventions for factitious disorders is warranted.