Home > Health > Mental Health > Disorders > Factitious
Factitious disorder is a formal (DSM-IV) mental health diagnosis in which people deliberately exaggerate, fabricate, or induce physical or psychological health problems in themselves in order to get attention for themselves or gain some other form of internal gratification. Munchausen Syndrome is sometimes described as one sub-type of factitious disorder; others say it is another name for this disorder. Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (also addressed here) is a pattern of abusive behavior in which a caretaker deliberately exaggerates, fabricates, or induces physical and/or psychological health problems in another person. This pattern of behavior manifests as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, or a combination. The primary purpose of this behavior is to gain some form of internal gratification (such as attention) for the perpetrator.
http://www.mbpexpert.com/
Presents information on Munchausen by Proxy, a knowledge quiz, and links to further resources.
http://www.munchausen.com/
Deals with factitious disorders, malingering, Munchausen by proxy, and related conditions.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/291304-overview
Article by Todd S. Elwyn, MD, covers history, causes, symptoms and clues to recognition, prevalence, differential diagnosis, and treatment of this condition, which can be very challenging for busy physicians.
http://www.priory.com/psych/factitious.htm
Abstract with case studies. Andrei Szoke, M.D.
http://www.healthyplace.com/faking-illness/munchausen/munchausen-by-internet-faking-illness-online/
Article about people who join health support groups, chats, and message boards and fake a serious illness. Includes tips on how to spot this type of deception.
http://www.mbpexpert.com/basics.htm
An article intended for the education of people involved in forensic investigations of child sexual abuse and related allegations.
http://sids-network.org/experts/msp.htm
Two physicians from the SIDS Network present descriptions of this disorder.
http://www.vachss.com/help_text/msp.html
Small collection of annotated links to news articles and other resources.
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