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Factitious Disorder/Münchausen Syndrome

Harold J. Bursztajn, MD and Irene Coletsos, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Factitious disorder is a mental disorder manifested by an abnormal need for a sick role. Patients appear ill because they are feigning, exaggerating, or inducing symptoms. They are a...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • A patient will relate a history of disease symptoms, often with “classic” details obtained from a textbook but more commonly from medical websites, but on exam, the patient appears to...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • When possible, review medical and mental health records and mental health history.

  • In cases of known or suspected factitious disorder of either type, emergency department prov...

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

  • Fair to poor especially if etiology underlying the disorder cannot be addressed

  • The long-term outcomes of untreated factitious disorder worse than other severe mental disorders su...

REFERENCES

1
Pulman A, Taylor J. Munchausen by internet: current research and future directions. J. Med Internet Res. 2012;14(4):e115.
2
Ray A, Sharma S, Sadasivam B. Munchausen syndrome in COVID-19: an ...

CODES

ICD10

  • F68.10 Factitious disorder, unspecified

  • F68.11 Factitious disorder w predom psych signs and symptoms

  • F68.12 Factitious disorder w predom physical signs and symptoms

  • F68.13 Factitious disord w ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Atypical emotional responses to illness is common.

  • Respond as you would to someone who cannot control self-harm rather than someone who wants to deceive you.

  • In cases of medical child ab...

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