Factitious disorder: a case report and literature review of treatment

Abstract

Diagnosis of factitious disorder (FD) is frequently difficult and patients may present with physical symptoms only, psychiatric symptoms only or with a combination of both. As long as the nature of the disease is so secretive and large‐scale studies are almost impossible, every case report is important. Here, the authors present a case of severe FD and the therapeutic approach taken.

Insights into the clinical profile and comorbidities of Factitious Disorder in a multispecialty setting in southwest Nigeria: A cases series and review

“…All the patients were equipped with some life skills training to problem solve and to be assertive in expressing their feelings verbally instead of using sickness. The suggested indicators of FD identified in our patients include perplexing, frequently changing unusual and inconsistent clinical signs and symptoms, unresolving symptoms despite appropriate treatment of the disorder being mimicked, increased expenditure on medical care, disabilities from the illness, display of symptoms or behaviors only when being observed, the frustration of medical personnel and using the symptoms to cry for help (13,61). Although the motivation for reporting the symptoms was not obvious to our patients initially, eventually they admitted to feigning the symptoms (8).…”