What is the key difference between Factitious Disorder and Malingering?

What is the key difference between Factitious Disorder and Malingering?

• A. Factitious Disorder involves intentional production or feigning of symptoms for internal psychological gain; Malingering involves intentional production of symptoms for external incentives.
• B. Factitious Disorder is for external incentives; Malingering is for internal gain.
• C. Both are always voluntary and easily discerned.
• D. Factitious Disorder is the same as malingering.

Answer: (A)

Motivation behind feigning symptoms is what sets Factitious Disorder apart from Malingering. In Factitious Disorder, a person intentionally fabricates or induces symptoms to take on the sick role and receive internal psychological benefits—attention, care, and the identity of being ill. There isn’t an obvious external reward. In Malingering, the feigning is deliberate but aimed at external incentives such as avoiding work, obtaining financial compensation, or gaining access to drugs. So the core difference is internal psychological gain versus external incentives, even though both involve intentional symptom production.

Motivation behind feigning symptoms is what sets Factitious Disorder apart from Malingering. In Factitious Disorder, a person intentionally fabricates or induces symptoms to take on the sick role and receive internal psychological benefits—attention, care, and the identity of being ill. There isn’t an obvious external reward. In Malingering, the feigning is deliberate but aimed at external incentives such as avoiding work, obtaining financial compensation, or gaining access to drugs. So the core difference is internal psychological gain versus external incentives, even though both involve intentional symptom production.