Factitious Disorders and Malingering
Key points
- Factitious disorders are those illnesses that are consciously created by an individual.
- They represent the willful production of signs and symptoms of disease.
- Usually the patient's primary goal is to receive medical, surgical, or psychiatric care to satisfy some psychological need.
- These patients are often of great interest to physicians because their behavior typically involves getting physicians and nurses to participate in their psychological disorder.
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
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