A case of factitious disorder presenting as alcohol dependence

Abstract

Factitious disorders involve the feigning of physical or psychological symptoms in order to assume the patient role. Pseudologia fantastica, which involves the pathological creation of fabrications about one's background, is an associated feature of factitious disorders. Substance abuse disorders are also associated with factitious disorders. However, the manifestation of factitious complaints as substance abuse has yet to be reported in the literature. This case study describes a patient referred to a residential substance abuse treatment program who was discovered to have factitious alcohol dependence and prominent pseudologia fantastica.

Key words:

• alcohol dependence
• factitious disorder
• pseudologia fantastica

Notes

Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut.

To whom correspondence should be addressed at Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut 06050; e‐mail: [email protected].

Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Damon Mitchell

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