The A, B, C's of factitious disorder: a response to Turner.
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) is being prepared, but little attention has been accorded the category of factitious disorder, despite its presence in the manual for almost 30 years. Among relevant articles that have appeared, Turner's publication advocates retention of the category, but with new criteria. In the current paper, we reject Turner's reformulation but use the identified diagnostic dilemmas to illuminate the phenomenology of factitious disorder. We also offer a reconceptualization of the diagnosis that should better inform the preparations for DSM-V.
Hamilton
James C
JC
Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.
Feldman
Marc D
MD
Janata
Jeffrey W
JW
D000818:Animals; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans