What does Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another involve?

Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another involves the intentional fabrication or exaggeration of symptoms in another person, typically to assume the role of a caregiver or to gain attention and sympathy. The individual who imposes the disorder might actively produce, feign, or induce health issues in the person they are caring for, thereby creating a deceptive presentation of illness. This manipulation often leads to unnecessary medical evaluations and interventions for the victim, who is often a vulnerable individual, such as a child or an elderly person.

The focus on deception distinguishes this disorder from genuine health issues or conditions where the individual truly experiences symptoms. While some may seek medical attention for it, the primary aspect is the deception centered on another person, rather than personal gain in conventional terms, such as financial benefits or external rewards. In fact, treatment refusal may occur, but it is not an intrinsic characteristic of this particular disorder. Thus, the correct understanding is that the disorder revolves around the deceitful presentation of symptoms imposed on another individual.