Factitious disorder features which characteristic?

• A. Acting as if one has a physical or mental illness when not really sick
• B. Deliberately feigning symptoms for external rewards
• C. A fixed belief in a personal defect or disease
• D. A pattern of avoidance of responsibilities

Answer: (A)

Factitious disorder involves deliberately producing or feigning physical or psychological symptoms in order to assume the sick role, driven by an internal need for care or attention rather than external rewards. The description of acting as if one has a physical or mental illness when not really sick captures this intentional illness behavior to be viewed as ill. The idea of feigning for external rewards describes malingering, where the motive is tangible gain. A fixed belief in a personal defect or disease points to a delusional idea rather than deceptive illness behavior, and a pattern of avoiding responsibilities doesn’t fit the characteristic pattern of feigning illness to obtain care.