A Fundamental Guide To Factitious Disorder

How Those With Factitious Disorder Fake Illnesses

Those who have factitious disorder will work to either exaggerate symptoms of minor illnesses and fabricate symptoms when no illness exists (e.g., fakes stomach pains). As previously discussed, some will also harm themselves deliberately to produce physical symptoms, such as interfering with wound healing, burning their body, and consume medications to produce symptoms. Beyond this, however, there are two other ways individuals with factitious disorder deceive others.

They may provide false medical history to medical professionals, support groups, and even family and friends. For instance, they may claim to have been seriously ill in the past, such as with cancer, and they may even deliberately attempt to change their medical records to reflect this. Speaking of changing medical records, patients may also tamper with medical instruments and equipment or contaminate medical samples, such as their urine, to produce skewed results.

Causes Of Factitious Disorder

An exact cause of factitious disorder is not known, though research suggests psychological factors and extremely stressful experiences come into play. However, some of the factors that increase an individual’s risk of developing factitious disorder include having suffered a severe illness when growing up or experienced trauma in childhood, such as physical, sexual, or psychological abuse. These individuals may also have poor self-esteem, lost a loved one due to illness or abandonment, possess a heightened desire to be associated with doctors or hospitals, or may be employed in healthcare. Adults who have been previously ill and enjoyed the attention it brought may also be at an increased risk, as are those individuals who suffer from depression or personality disorders.