Factitious Disorder

Understanding the Deception of Ilness

What is the historical context of factitious disorder?

• Origin of term

  • Coined by psychiatrist Richard Asher in 1951

• Literary Reference

  • Named after Baron Munchausen, a character known for exaggerated tales

• Modern Classification

  • Now officially classified as “factitious disorder in medical literature

What is factitious disorder imposed on self?

• Falsification

  • Deliberate deception through fabricated symptoms or self-induced injury

• Self-presentation

  • Individual presents themselves as ill, impaired, or injured

• Motivation

  • Deceptive behavior occurs without obvious external rewards

• Differential Diagnosis

  • Not better explained by other mental disorders

What is factitious disorder imposed on another?

• Previously Known As

  • Munchausen by Proxy

• Key Distinction

  • Perpetrator falsifies illness in another person (the victim)

• Diagnostic Note

  • Only the perpetrator receives this diagnosis, not the victim

What is Munchausen by Internet (MbI)/ Cyber Factitious Disorder?

• First Identified

  • Dr. Marc Feldman identified this phenomenon in 2000

• Online Expression

  • Misuse of internet groups with false stories of illness

• Motivation

  • Seeking attention and nurturing from online communities

What to know about online deceptive behavior?

• False Sick Role

  • Pretending to have serious illnesses online

• Seeking Nurturing

  • Gathering attention and emotional support through deception

• Detection Challenges

  • Difficult for moderators to identify and manage

• Group Impact

  • Disrupts online communities and support groups