What Is Factitious Disorder?
5. Are There Known Causes?
The causes of this disorder are currently unknown, but there are many risk factors that can increase the risk of an individual being diagnosed with factitious disorder. Individuals who experience serious illness or trauma during childhood are at risk. This can include physical, emotional or sexual abuse. A loss of a loved one or previous serious illness at any age can also be a risk factor.
Finally, low self-esteem, depression or a personality disorder are all associated with factitious disorder. Individuals who work in the health care field or wish to be associated with the field are more likely to develop this disorder. If you or a loved one is dealing with any of these emotions or has gone through a traumatic experience, therapy can be a major step in reducing the seriousness of the symptoms and potentially lowering the risk of factitious disorder.
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