title: Factitial aplastic anemia.
abstract: A 29-year-old married nurse with pancytopenia was discovered to be surreptitiously ingesting alkylating agents. Despite her life-threatening behavior, there was no evidence that she was psychotic, depressed, or cognitively impaired. Psychological testing was indicative of a sociopathic personality. The patient and her behavior elicited considerable affect and controversy among members of her health team. It is hypothesized that the patient's behavior resulted from longstanding low self-esteem. The production of a dramatic illness gratified dependency needs and fooling physicians gave her a sense of power.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology*; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate; D009110:Munchausen Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D008727:Methotrexate