A factitious disorder or FD is an illness whose symptoms are either self-induced or falsified by the patient. The motives of the patient can vary: for a patient with Munchausen syndrome their primary aim is to obtain sympathy and nurturance, while in the case of malingering the patient wishes to obtain external gains such as drugs or disability payments.

Factitious disorders should be distinguished from conversion disorder, in which the patient is unaware that the symptoms being experienced are not medically caused.

External links

• eMedicine FD page
• Dr. Feldman's factitious disorder page
• Word of the Day page for "Factitious"