title: Acquired pseudo eating disorder. An imitation or fabrication of anorexia nervosa.
abstract: Acquired pseudo eating disorder is a condition characterized by the development or fabrication of symptoms corresponding to an eating disorder in a patient hospitalized for an unrelated medical illness, who has previously been exposed to a patient(s) with anorexia nervosa. Two adolescent patients developed an eating disorder during medical hospitalization. Both acquired the condition while hospitalized for another reason (myelomeningocele and multiple sclerosis, respectively). The potential psychodynamics suggested the selection of an "eating disorder," amenable to control, over the reality of a threatening illness that was experienced as being out of control. Thus, the new and dramatic symptoms appeared to serve as a defense against a pervasive underlying depression. The patient's loudly proclaimed "eating disorder" seemed to originate from the imitation of anorexia nervosa patients. Recognition of this hospital-acquired pseudo eating disorder and appropriate counseling resulted in rapid resolution of the symptoms. It is possible to identify a pseudo eating disorder developing during a hospitalization and differentiate it from "true" anorexia nervosa.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008306:Malingering; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy