Factitious Disorders Gordon Daichendt

DSM IV Criteria The symptoms are inconsistent, changing markedly from day to day and from one hospitalization to the next The changes are influenced by the environment rather than by the treatment The patient’s symptoms are unusual or unbelievable The patient has a large number of symptoms that belong to several different psychiatric disorders

The patient acts as if they have a physical or mental illness – Exaggerate symptoms – Hurt themselves to bring on symptoms – Alter tests (contaminating a urine sample) Not for financial gain but rather to get the care and special attention/sympathy given to people who are truly ill

Major Causes Usually developed in early adulthood Someone who has been hospitalized for severe illness in themselves or others Long pattern of hospitalizations – Patient becomes more knowledgeable about hospitals/medicine Typically unaware of their reason for doing so

Percent of Population Affected No reliable statistics have been collected Patients with this disorder are usually dishonest Check into multiple hospital which can skew results

Treatment Methods Primary treatment is psychotherapy – Type of cognitive-behavioral therapy There are no drugs to cure factitious disorder Drugs might be used to treat related psychological disorders – Anxiety – Depression – Personality Disorder

Works Cited -overview s_disorders/hic_an_overview_of_factitious_diso rders.aspx health/factitious-disorders