What distinguishes Factitious Disorder from other disorders?

Factitious Disorder is characterized by the intentional production or feigning of physical or psychological symptoms. This means that individuals actively and deliberately engage in behavior that leads to the appearance of an illness, often to assume the role of a patient. This distinguishes Factitious Disorder from other similar disorders, such as malingering, where the motivation is typically to gain a specific external incentive, such as financial compensation or avoiding responsibilities.

In Factitious Disorder, the primary motivation is not to achieve a tangible gain; rather, it revolves around the need to be seen as ill or to gain attention and sympathy from others, which is fundamentally different from disorders that involve genuine symptoms or external incentives. This deep-rooted need for affirmation and validation as a patient or suffering individual showcases a complex psychological dynamic unique to Factitious Disorder.

Additionally, the disorder is not limited to a specific age group, as it can manifest in both adults and children, nor is it inherently tied to prior trauma, which means options regarding age limitations or trauma association do not apply. Therefore, the essence of Factitious Disorder lies in the conscious creation or exaggeration of illness symptoms without the primary motive of external rewards.