Use of medical services in the Factitious Disorder

Abstract

Invention, production or falsification of physical and psychological symptoms, are the core traits of Factitious Disorder. The aim is to assume a patient role.

Factitious Disorder is associated with high medical, personal and social costs. The reasons are that these patients are difficult to identify, they visit multiple physicians and have frequent comorbidity.

The objective of this study is to investigate the overuse of medical services by these patients. This is a case-control study including patients with the diagnosis of Factitious Disorder with Psychological symptoms in a Psychiatric Inpatients Unit. We analyze the medical and mental health history of these patients in childhood and adult age, the percentage of admissions that require and their duration. Length of stay in a Psychiatric Unit or other medical or surgical units in the last year and five years prior, and the average number of physicians consulted in the last year, are analyzed.

Patients with Factitious Disorder with Psychological Symptoms require more admissions at all ages. Their somatic episodes have a lower average length of hospitalization, although Cases remain at a Psychiatric Inpatients Unit double time that other patients and they visit double number of physicians. This frequent use of hospital cares supports the importance of an early identification of factitious symptoms.