The Intersection Between Factitious Disorder and Eating Disorders: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Factitious disorder is a rare condition requiring appropriate recognition and treatment.
• Patients with eating disorders may present with self-induced illnesses or fabricated eating disorder histories.
• Early identification is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate existing literature on factitious disorder co-occurring with eating disorders.
• To understand the diverse clinical presentations of this comorbidity.
• To identify diagnostic challenges and management strategies.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search identified published clinical cases.
• Data analyzed included demographics, clinical presentations, diagnostic factors, etiology, comorbidities, healthcare use, and outcomes.
• Focus on cases of factitious disorder in conjunction with eating disorders.

Main Results:

• Thirty-four cases from 29 publications (1984-2022) were identified, predominantly affecting females (94%) with a mean age of 27.8 years.
• Self-induction was the most common method (74%) for producing factitious illness; 29% had healthcare backgrounds.
• Most cases involved factitious disorder comorbid with eating disorders, with few instances of factitious eating disorders (12%).

Conclusions:

• Factitious disorder and eating disorders intersect in various ways, though rarely documented.
• The literature provides limited characterization of this comorbidity.
• Further research is essential to fully understand and manage these complex cases.