Sections
Assumption 1: Factitious Disorder Is Not Rare and Is Not Always Severe | Assumption 2: Factitious Disorder Is Not Categorically Distinct From the Somatoform Disorders | Assumption 3: Factitious Disorder Develops Gradually
Excerpt
It is widely assumed that factitious disorder is a rare disorder characterized
by extreme forms of medical deception. However, its apparent rarity
and severity are almost certainly artifacts of our inability to
detect more subtle cases. Most persons diagnosed with factitious
disorder are those whose deceptions are so audacious that the patients
can somehow be caught in the act, or the act leaves physical evidence
that can be uncovered.