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Peer: Mallory

Factitious disorder is used to diagnose an individual who fakes their illness. Research shows that an individual can impose a factitious disorder. This disorder often brings individuals into medical facilities more often than they need to be. Research supports that females are more likely to favor factitious disorder imposed on self (Berar et al., 2021). This is interesting, and I wondered what these females had gone through as children. For instance, when looking at the psychological standpoint, maybe some of these women lacked attention from mother and father figures as children, did not receive treatment for injuries or sickness as a child, or did not have good relationships while going through the stages of development. I think all of these ideas are important to consider when looking at the predominance of women being diagnosed with the disorder.

Malingering refers to the malintent of receiving medication or help from the economy by exaggerating symptomology, disability, or disease (Casado Morales & Laguna Bonilla, 2017). Treatment for malingering and somatic symptom disorder often looks back to cognitive behavior therapy. The goal is to reduce physiological activation of the somatic symptoms that occur. Another treatment for malingering and somatic symptom disorder includes cognitive restricting, which can be done through phases where the patient is faced with emotions and recognition strategies (Casado Morales & Laguna Bonilla, 2017).

I do feel as if these issues could be considered psychological. There is much to consider when considering whether something is psychosocial. For instance, is there a motive behind the behavior? When looking back at factitious disorder, were the patients looking for attention? These people could have lacked attention in their own lives, so they tend to seek attention and help from others.

References

Bérar, A., Bouzillé, G., Jego, P., & Allain, J.-S. (2021). A descriptive, retrospective case series of patients with factitious disorder imposed on self.
BMC Psychiatry,
21(1), 588.
https://doi-org.portal.lib.fit.edu/10.1186/s12888-021-03582-8

Links to an external site.

Casado Morales, M. I., & Laguna-Bonilla, S. (2017). Somatic symptom disorder: From suspicion of malingering to cognitive-behavioral treatment.
Clinica y Salud,
28(3), 131-138–138. https://doi-org.portal.lib.fit.edu/10.1016/j.clysa.2017.05.004