Behavioral Science

122 Deja Review: Behavioral Science
FACTITIOUS DISORDER
What is the primary characteristic
of factitious disorder?
Are patients with factitious disorder
or malingering aware of the false
nature of their somatic complaints?
How is factitious disorder different
from malingering?
Which gender is more prevalent
in factitious disorders?
What occupation has the highest
prevalence of factitious disorders?
What disease presentations are often
seen in factitious disorder?
What laboratory finding would indicate
self-injection of insulin?
What are common behaviors seen in
patients with factitious disorder?
What are common histories of patients
with factitious disorder?
What is the appropriate treatment
for factitious disorder?
What is the prevalence of factitious
disorder?
Which gender is most commonly seen
in factitious disorder?
What is a well-known variant
of factitious disorder?
Intentional simulation of illness
Yes. This is the distinguishing
characteristic between factitious
and somatoform disorders.
The only obvious conscious goal of
factitious disorder is to assume the “sick
role”—there is no clear benefit or gain.
Female
Health-care workers
Hematuria (from adding blood to urine
or from the use of anticoagulants) and
hypoglycemia (from insulin injection)
Low C-peptide level
Requests for analgesics
Extensive knowledge of medical
terminology
Eager desire to undergo medical
procedures and operations
Traveling to different locations,
hospitals, emergency rooms, etc
Patients often have dramatic histories
with extensive details about their
symptoms.
Recognition and confrontation in a
nonaccusatory manner
0.5% to 0.8%—very difficult to determine
Females
Factitious disorder by proxy (aka
Munchausen syndrome by proxy)