FACTITIOUS DISORDER IMPOSED ON SELF vs FACTITIOUS DISORDER

IMPOSED ON ANOTHER : Provide example/s

Factitious disorder symptoms involve mimicking or producing illness or injury or exaggerating

symptoms or impairment to deceive others. People with the disorder go to great lengths to hide
their deception, so it may be difficult to realize that their symptoms are actually part of a serious
mental health disorder.

Factitious disorder imposed on self (Munchausen syndrome)

- This type includes the falsifying of psychological or physical signs or symptoms. When
someone tries to get attention and sympathy by falsifying, inducing, and/or exaggerating
an illness. They lie about symptoms, sabotage medical tests (like putting blood in their
urine), or harm themselves to get the symptoms.
○ An example of a psychological factitious disorder is mimicking behavior that is
typical of a mental illness, such as schizophrenia. The person may appear
confused, make absurd statements, and report hallucinations (the experience of
sensing things that are not there; for example, hearing voices).
○ People will fake or induce physical or mental health problems for sympathy and
attention.
○ People with this type of factitious disorder will fake physical or psychological
problems in themselves, or they might self-induce an injury or disease.
○ Possible warning signs of Munchausen syndrome include the following: ○
Dramatic but inconsistent medical history. Unclear symptoms that are not
controllable and that become more severe or change once treatment has begun. ○
Problems with identity and self-esteem.
○ Predictable relapses following improvement in the condition.
■ Extensive knowledge of hospitals and/or medical terminology, as well as
the textbook descriptions of illnesses. Medical knowledge may be quite
extensive from many hospitalizations, or from a prior job.
■ Presence of multiple surgical scars.
■ Appearance of new or additional symptoms following negative test results.
■ Presence of symptoms only when the patient is alone or not being observed
(e.g. seizures or passing out).
■ Willingness or eagerness to have medical tests, operations, or other
procedures. More comfortable being in the hospital than you might think. ■
History of seeking treatment at numerous hospitals, clinics and doctors'
offices, possibly even in different cities.
■ Reluctance by the patient to allow healthcare professionals to meet with or
talk to family, friends, or prior healthcare providers
Factitious disorder imposed on another (Munchausen syndrome by proxy) - Where a person acts
like their caring for (a child, a disabled individual, or an older person, for example) has a physical
or mental illness while the person is not actually sick. ○ People with this disorder present another
person as sick, injured or having problems functioning, claiming that medical attention is needed.
Usually this involves a parent harming a child. This form of abuse can put a child in serious
danger of injury or unnecessary medical care.
○ Deliberate actions directed toward making a child sick.
○ People with this type of factitious disorder will fake physical or psychological
problems in another person, usually someone who is vulnerable and under their
care (such as a child or older relative).
○ FDIA is most often seen in mothers — although it can also happen with fathers —
who intentionally harm or describe non-existent symptoms in their children to get
the attention given to the family of someone who is sick. A person with FDIA uses
the many hospitalizations as a way to earn praise from others for their devotion to
the child's care, often using the sick child as a means for developing a relationship
with the doctor or other healthcare provider.
○ There are certain characteristics that are common in a person with FDIA, including:
■ Being a parent, usually a mother, but the person can also be the adult child
of an elderly patient, spouse or caretaker of a disabled adult.
■ Sometimes being a healthcare professional or having medical knowledge.
■ Being very friendly and cooperative with the healthcare providers.
■ Appearing to be quite concerned — some might seem overly concerned —
about their child or designated patient.
■ Possibly also suffering from factitious disorder imposed on self. This is a
related disorder in which the caregiver repeatedly acts as if he or she has a
physical or mental illness when he or she has caused the symptoms.

References:
● https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9833-munchausen-syndrome-factitious-dis
order-imposed-on-self#:~:text=Munchausen%20syndrome%20by%20proxy%20(also,per
son%20is%20not%20actually%20sick.
● https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/factitious-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc
-20356028
● https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9832-an-overview-of-factitious-disorders#:
~:text=Factitious%20disorder%20imposed%20on%20self,mental%20illness%2C%20suc
h%20as%20schizophrenia.
● https://www.psycom.net/factitious-disorder