health

Factitious disorder is a psychiatric condition in which an individual
deliberately produces or falsifies symptoms of an illness for the sole purpose
of assuming the role of a patient. Individuals with factitious disorder want
to be under medical care, perhaps to obtain attention, care, or nurture.
Generally this disorder signifies a very serious unmet psychological need or
psychological trauma.

Anjali’s Story

Anjali needed extra hours of volunteering at the hospital to fulfill her high
school community service obligation. For some reason, this year there
was less demand for the volunteers than in previous years. Therefore, she
found herself serving at a third hospital in as many months when most
students could expect to stay at one hospital the entire year. In many
ways the hospitals were similar, but every difference in this new hospital
reminded her that she wanted a “home” site. While she was thinking this,
she felt relieved to see a familiar face. She saw someone she knew being
pushed in a wheelchair by a nurse. Deanna had been a patient at Anjali’s
first hospital.
One night when Anjali was on duty, Deanna wanted someone to talk
to, and Anjali spent some time with her. Deanna told her all about her
illness. It was a strange one that the doctors did not understand. The day
that Deanna was released, Anjali overheard some nurses commenting that
her illness was not so serious and that she would be all right.
Now, Anjali was wondering why Deanna was back in the hospital.
“Hi, Deanna!” she called out, but Deanna did not respond. “Do you
remember me?”
Deanna looked a bit shocked to recognize Anjali, but muttered “Oh,
hello.”
“Are you all right?” Anjali asked.
“Yes,” said Deanna. “I just had a relapse.”
The nurse pushing Deanna’s wheelchair had a quizzical smile.
“Relapse? You mean you have had this before? You should have told
the ER doctor.”
“Oh, well, that time was not as bad as this time,” Deanna replied
After the nurse settled Deanna in her hospital room, Anjali asked the
nurse. “Is she all right?”
“Yes,” said the nurse. “She thinks she has some form of exotic infection.
The doctor thinks she has Munchausen syndrome.” Anjali had to look up
the term. She found it is the most common factitious disorder.