A Fundamental Guide To Factitious Disorder
Factitious disorder - previously known as Munchausen’s syndrome - is a troublesome mental illness recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The afflicted individual deceives others into believing they, or someone else, are ill by appearing sick, injuring themselves or others, or by purposely falling sick. It is not the same thing as telling a lie about being ill to stay home from work or to avoid other obligations. Individuals who have factitious disorder may know they are causing their symptoms, but they may not understand why or recognize the situation as a serious problem.
Types Of Factitious Disorder
There are two major types of factitious disorder: imposed on the self and imposed on another person. Factitious disorder imposed on the self-occurs when the individual in question fabricates or exaggerates symptoms they are personally experiencing, self-injures, and purposely gets themselves sick. Factitious disorder imposed on another person is often called factitious disorder by proxy, formerly known as Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy.
Individuals with this type fabricate the symptoms on another person in their care, most commonly a mother harming her child to receive attention. Though this is the most common, fathers can be affected, as can individuals working with the elderly or individuals with disabilities, or even pet owners. With factitious disorder by proxy, the diagnosis is not given to the person with the physical symptoms, the victim, but rather the person who is causing them harm.
Symptoms Of Factitious Disorder
Some signs of factitious disorder will vary since different individuals with this condition will mimic the symptoms of various medical conditions. It is also important to note that it is quite difficult to detect symptoms of factitious disorder, as those who have this illness will go to significant lengths to hide their deception, making it difficult for others to realize what is happening. However, typical symptoms of factitious disorder include seeking treatment from multiple places and medical professionals, possibly under a fake name at some locations, and unwillingness to allow doctors to speak with family or other medical professionals. Other signs include frequent hospital stays and few visitors when hospitalized, and the individual exhibiting a reluctance to leave the hospital after treatment. They may also be excited to have risky surgeries or frequent tests or are argumentative with doctors and other hospital staff.
Individuals with this condition may also possess a vast medical knowledge of medical terms, diseases, and treatments, be inconsistent or have suspiciously vague symptoms, and have numerous surgical scars or other indicators of many medical procedures. The condition(s) they claim to have may worsen for no apparent reason or have an unexpected response to standard treatments. Of course, in cases of factitious disorder by proxy, these symptoms would apply to how the individual inflicts the symptoms on another.
