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Psychological Aspects of Factitious Disorder
Mohammad Jafferany1,2, Zaira Khalid2, Katherine A McDonald3
1Department of Psychiatry, Central Michigan University College of Medicine, 1000 Houghton Ave, Saginaw, MI 48602. m.jafferany@cmich.edu.
The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders
|March 1, 2018
Summary
Factitious disorder involves intentionally faking illness to gain attention, leading to unnecessary medical procedures. Understanding psychological factors is key to effective treatment and multidisciplinary care.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
Background:
- Factitious disorder is characterized by the intentional production of symptoms to assume the sick role.
- This behavior can lead to extensive medical evaluations and invasive procedures with potential complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the psychological underpinnings of factitious disorder.
- To aid healthcare providers in understanding patient presentations and developing treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of psychological theories explaining symptom production.
- Discussion of differential diagnoses including malingering, somatic symptom disorder, and anxiety disorders.
Main Results:
- The etiology of factitious disorder is complex and not fully understood.
- Psychological theories suggest origins in childhood attachment, identity conflicts, and intrapsychic issues.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the psychological factors is crucial for effective management of factitious disorder.
- Multidisciplinary team approaches involving confrontation and psychotherapy are recommended treatment strategies.
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