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factitious
(redirected from Factitious Disorder by Proxy)

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Legal, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
factitious /fac·ti·tious/ (fak-tish´-us) artificially induced; not natural.
fac·ti·tious (fk-tshs)
adj.
Produced artificially rather than by a natural process.

factitious [fak-tish´us]
artificial; not natural.
factitious disorder a mental disorder characterized by repeated, knowing simulation of physical or psychological symptoms for no apparent purpose other than obtaining treatment. Unlike malingering there is no recognizable motive for feigning illness. It is subtyped on the basis of whether the predominant signs and symptoms are physical (munchausen syndrome), psychological, or both. See also ganser syndrome.
factitious disorder by proxy a form of factitious disorder in which one person (usually a mother) intentionally fabricates or induces signs and symptoms of one or more physical (munchausen syndrome by proxy) or psychological disorders in another person under their care (usually a child) and subjects that person to needless and sometimes dangerous or disfiguring diagnostic procedures or treatment, without any external incentives for the behavior existing.

factitious (faktish´us),
adj false or self-manufactured.

factitious
artificial; not natural.

factitious
adjective Referring to symptoms driven by an unconscious, compelling need to assume a 'sick role', usually in absence of an external incentive. See Munchausen disease.


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In this case, if the agency could say that the mother had created this illness in her daughter, then it would be correct to assert that the mother did indeed have factitious disorder by proxy.
Factitious disorder by proxy is a condition in which a person deliberately produces, feigns, or exaggerates symptoms in a person who is in their care.
In 1995, the American Psychological Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV), included a definition for factitious disorder by proxy, which is now the accepted psychiatric category for Munchausen's Syndrome By Proxy (MSBP).
 
 
 
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