Key features to differentiate factitious disorder and malingering from SSDs
In SSD, symptoms are not intentionally (consciously) produced. Symptoms produced intentionally to assume the sick role (i.e., “primary gain”) or without obvious external reward are characteristic of factitious disorder.
Symptoms produced intentionally for monetary or other “secondary gain” are consistent with malingering.
Reporting to the appropriate legal authorities may be necessary in cases of malingering (considered fraud) and factitious disorder imposed on another (a.k.a. Münchausen syndrome by proxy).
