Factitious Disorders

Factitious disorders are characterized by a voluntary production or faking of physical or psychological symptoms repeatedly and consistently in the absence of disorder, disease, or somatic or mental incapacity. This behavior is not justified by the presence of external incentives (or secondary gain). In factitious disorders, the production of diseases or injury is intentional and conscious, but the real motivation is unconscious and often involves the need to become “patients” and thus be cared for by a health care team. However, it should be acknowledged that the presence of factitious signs or symptoms does not imply the absence of real disorders. In fact, factitious disorders are related to personality disorders. Thus, this entry focuses on the prevalence of factitious disorders and its substantial comorbidities and ...