Update on factitious disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Since factitious disorders entered the official psychiatric nomenclature in DSM-III and DSM-III-R, there has been a proliferation of reports and commentary about this unusual disorder. We present an update of the recent literature.


METHODS
The psychiatric and medical literature was searched. Clinical reports and critical/theoretical papers were reviewed; eighty-five are summarized here.


RESULTS
Available data is descriptive and anecdotal. Reports focus on the following four topics, which are discussed here: 1) diagnostic issues, 2) the newly proposed DSM-IV category of factitious disorder by proxy, 3) epidemiology and course, 4) new developments in treatment and management.


CONCLUSIONS
Factitious disorders are uncommon but serious illnesses that present diagnostic and management dilemmas. Deriving systematic information about these illnesses is a major challenge.
Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York.
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Taylor
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Hyler
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009110:Munchausen Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D016735:Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology