Conversion Disorder/Factitious disorder

symptoms of conversion disorder are

paralysis, seizures, sight or hearing impairment, and loss of speech.

Many people with factitious disorder may also suffer from other mental disorders, particularly:

personality or identity disorders.

The key thing about conversion disorder is the symptoms are all

physical.

If the healthcare provider finds no physical reason for the symptoms of factitious disorder, he or she may refer the person to a:

psychiatrist or psychologist (mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses)

factitious disorder imposed on self includes:

the falsifying of psychological or physical signs or symptoms. An example: mimicking behavior that is typical of a mental illness, such as schizophrenia. The person may appear confused, make absurd statements, and report hallucinations (the experience of sensing things that are not there; for example, hearing voices).

When you look in to their brains you:

can't find any damage that would explain it. The brain looks normal.

People with factitious disorder are willing to undergo:

painful or risky tests to get sympathy and special attention

It is estimated that about __% of those admitted to hospitals are believed to have factitious disorder, but this is likely under-reported.

1%

What are the warning signs of factitious disorder?

Dramatic but inconsistent medical history Unclear symptoms that are not controllable, become more severe, or change once treatment has begun Predictable relapses following improvement in the condition Extensive knowledge of hospitals and/or medical terminology, as well as the textbook descriptions of illness Presence of many surgical scars Appearance of new or additional symptoms following negative test results Presence of symptoms only when the patient is alone or not being observed Willingness or eagerness to have medical tests, operations, or other procedures History of seeking treatment at many hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices, possibly even in different cities Reluctance by the patient to allow healthcare professionals to meet with or talk to family members, friends, and prior healthcare providers Refusal of psychiatric or psychological evaluation Forecasting negative medical outcomes despite no evidence of this Sabotaging discharge plans or suddenly becoming more ill as one is about to be discharged from the hospital setting

A complication of factitious disorder imposed on another is the:

abuse and potential death of the victims

What are the symptoms of factitious disorder?

Lie about or mimic symptoms Hurt themselves to bring on symptoms Alter diagnostic tests (such as contaminating a urine sample or tampering with a wound to prevent healing) Be willing to undergo painful or risky tests and operations in order to obtain the sympathy and special attention given to people who are truly medically ill

Factitious disorder imposed on another:

People with this disorder produce or fabricate symptoms of illness in others under their care: children, elderly adults, disabled persons, or pets. It most often occurs in mothers (although it can occur in fathers) who intentionally harm their children in order to receive attention. The diagnosis is not given to the victim, but rather to the perpetrator.

What is a prognosis (outlook) for people with factitious disorder?

Some people suffer one or two brief episodes of symptoms. In most cases factitious disorder is a chronic, or long-term, condition that can be very difficult to treat. many people with will not seek or follow treatment due to their low self-awareness.

Some theories suggest that a history of

abuse or neglect as a child, or a history of frequent illnesses in themselves or family members that required hospitalization, may be factors in the development of factitious disorder.

Most patients with factitious disorder have histories of:

abuse, trauma, family dysfunction, social isolation, early chronic medical illness, or professional experience in healthcare (training in nursing, health aid work, etc.).

The doctor bases his or her diagnosis of factitious disorder on the exclusion of:

actual physical or mental illness, and his or her observation of the patient's attitude and behavior.

What are the complications of factitious disorder?

at risk for health problems associated with hurting themselves by causing symptoms. they may suffer health problems related to multiple tests, procedures, and treatments, and are at high risk for substance abuse and suicide attempts

It's not something which is fabricated by the patient, but something that is automatically occurring as an:

avoidance of some kind of underlying stress or anxiety, and automatically being converted in a very real and often very functionally impairing symptom

conversion disorder

condition that presents as an alteration or loss of physical function suggestive of a physical disorder, but is usually presumed to be the expression of psychological trauma, one which causes errors in emotional information processed in the brain.

People with factitious disorder deliberately:

create or exaggerate symptoms of an illness. They have an inner need to be seen as ill or injured.

Factitious disorder is considered a mental illness because it is associated with severe:

emotional difficulties and stressful situations.

What are the types of factitious disorder?

factitious disorder imposed on self and factitious disorder imposed on another

How is factitious disorder treated?

first goal of treatment is to change the person's behavior and reduce his or her misuse of medical resources. In the case of factitious disorder imposed on another, the main goal is to ensure the safety and protection of any real or potential victims. treatment aims to resolve any underlying psychological issues that may be causing the person's behavior.

conversion disorder used to be known as

hysteria

there is no __________ to actually treat factitious disorder.

medications

Factitious disorder

mental disorder in which a person acts as if he or she has a physical or mental illness when, in fact, he or she has consciously created the symptoms.

Can factitious disorder be prevented?

no known way to prevent it. it may be helpful to start treatment in people as soon as they begin to have symptoms

How common is factitious disorder?

no reliable statistics regarding the number of people in the US who suffer from this

What causes factitious disorder?

not known, but researchers believe both biological and psychological factors play a role in the development of this disorder.

primary treatment for factitious disorder is:

psychotherapy (a type of counseling). Treatment likely will focus on changing the thinking and behavior of the individual with the disorder (cognitive-behavioral therapy). Family therapy also may help in teaching family members not to reward or reinforce the behavior of the person with the disorder.

How is factitious disorder diagnosed?

very difficult to diagnose. doctors must rule out any possible physical and mental illnesses, and often use a variety of diagnostic tests and procedures before considering a diagnosis of factitious

conversion disorder is more prevalent in

young women