Comorbidity of Factitious Disorder and Intellectual Disability: A Case Report

Abstract

Individuals with factitious disorder fake illnesses to assume a sick role. They simulate, induce, or aggravate illness, often inflicting painful, deforming, or even life-threatening injury on themselves or those under their care. Factitious disorders are diagnosed in about one percent of patients who are seen in psychiatric consultation in general hospitals. One of the features, that are overrepresented in patients with factitious disorders include: normal or above-average Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Authors describe a rare comorbidity of factitious disorders and intellectual disability.