Louise arrived at the emergency room complaining of severe stomach pain. After careful evaluation, it became clear that Louise had purposely given herself food poisoning. She would most likely:
A)Be malingering
B)Have somatization disorder
C)Have la belle indifference
D)Have factitious disorder

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Louise's behavior of purposely giving herself food poisoning indicates that she may have factitious disorder, a mental illness in which a person acts as if they have an illness or injury without actually having it, in order to receive attention or sympathy from others. This behavior is often quite deliberate and may involve self-harm or self-poisoning. Malingering involves intentionally feigning or exaggerating symptoms in order to obtain some external gain or benefit. Somatization disorder involves a long history of physical complaints for which no medical cause can be found. La belle indifference refers to a lack of concern or emotional response to a physical symptom or illness, which is more characteristic of certain neurological conditions than of factitious disorder.

Louise Arrived at the Emergency Room Complaining of Severe Stomach