Somatic disorders: factitious disorder: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Somatic disorders: factitious disorder

Sample item

A nurse repeatedly presents with fever and abdominal pain, and doctors discover she has been injecting herself with faecal material. She gains nothing materially but receives attention from staff. The diagnosis is:

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Factitious disorder imposed on self

Factitious disorder is deliberate falsification or induction of illness without obvious external reward, to assume the sick role (Munchausen syndrome in its severe form). Malingering has an identifiable external incentive.

Option by option

  • A. Malingering

    Malingering requires an external incentive such as compensation.

  • B. Factitious disorder imposed on self (correct)

    Correct. Deliberate production of illness for the sick role is factitious disorder.

  • C. Conversion disorder

    Conversion symptoms are not consciously produced.

  • D. Somatic symptom disorder

    SSD symptoms are not deliberately produced.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is B, Factitious disorder imposed on self. Factitious disorder is deliberate falsification or induction of illness without obvious external reward, to assume the sick role (Munchausen syndrome in its severe form).

Why is "Malingering" not the answer?

Malingering requires an external incentive such as compensation.

Why is "Conversion disorder" not the answer?

Conversion symptoms are not consciously produced.

Why is "Somatic symptom disorder" not the answer?

SSD symptoms are not deliberately produced.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Somatic disorders: factitious disorder in Psychiatry. Malingering has an identifiable external incentive.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Somatic disorders: factitious disorder?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.