Feigned bereavement: twelve cases.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Investigating abnormal illness behavior and its differential diagnosis.
• Understanding the presentation of feigned conditions in clinical settings.

Observation:

• Describes twelve patients exhibiting feigned bereavement.
• Patients often presented with depressive symptoms upon admission.
• Healthcare staff frequently misattributed depression to the feigned bereavement.

Findings:

• Identified feigned bereavement as a form of abnormal illness behavior.
• Suggested most cases are variants of Münchausen syndrome.
• Explored motivations behind such deceptions.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of recognizing feigned bereavement to avoid misdiagnosis.
• Suggests criteria for identifying potential deception in patients.
• Informs clinical practice regarding the assessment of grief and depression.