This article reports the case of a 28 year-old female presenting to a psychiatric inpatient unit with depression and a history of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although medical assessment was negative for AIDS, psychiatric evaluation and psychological testing were consistent with a presentation of factitious disorder. This case illustrates the need to be on the alert for individuals admitted to psychiatric units who report they have AIDS or its related conditions.
References
1.
HoD.D., RotaT.R., SchooleyR.T.Isolation of HTLV-III from cerebrospinal fluid and neural tissues of patients with neurologic syndromes related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.N Engl J Med1985; 313: 1493–1497.
2.
FaulstichM.E.Psychiatric aspects of AIDS.Am J Psychiatry1987; 144: 551–556.
3.
MillerD., GreenJ., FarmerR.A “pseudo-AIDS” syndrome following from fear of AIDS.Br J Psychiatry1985; 146: 550–551.
4.
JenikeM.A., PatoC.Disabling fear of AIDS responsive to imipramine.Psychosomatics1986; 27: 143–144.
LawlerB.A., StewartJ.T.AIDS delusions: a symptom of our times (Letter).Am J Psychiatry1987; 144: 1244.
7.
FordC.V.Factitious Illness. In: The somatizing disorders: illness as a way of life.New York: Elsevier Biomedical, 1983: 135–154.
8.
ZumwaltR.E., McFeeleyP.J., MaitoJ.Fraudulent AIDS (Letter).JAMA1987; 257: 3231.
9.
TysonE., FortenberryJ.D.Fraudulent AIDS: a variant of Munchausen's syndrome (letter).JAMA1987; 258: 1889.
10.
RobinsonE.N., LathamR.H.A factitious case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.Sex Trans Dis1987; 14: 54–57.
11.
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, third edition-revised.Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association,1987.
12.
SarngadharanM.G., PopovicM., BruchL.Antibodies reactive with human T-lymphotropic retrovirus (HTLV-III) in the serum of patients with AIDS.Science1984; 224: 506–508.
13.
BiggarR.J., MelbyeM., EbbesenP.Variation in human T- lymphotropic virus III (HTLV-III) antibodies in homosexual men: decline before onset of illness related to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).Br Med J1987; 291: 997–998.
14.
FordC.V.The Munchausen syndrome. In: The somatizing disorders: illness as a way of life.New York: Elsevier Biomedical, 1983: 155–175.
15.
DonavanD.M.Costs of factitious illness.Hosp Community Psychiatry1987; 38: 571–572.