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A case of factitious disorder presenting as plumbism
Author(s) -
Johnson Gloria,
Mullan Brian,
Rich Gordon
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1987.tb120239.x
Subject(s) - factitious disorder , psychiatry , borderline personality disorder , personality , medicine , psychology , psychoanalysis
The case of a young man who presented with lead poisoning is reported. This did not resolve with prolonged treatment and he had several unusual and unexplained bacteraemias. Probable sources of self‐administered lead and bacteria were demonstrated and psychiatric assessment showed that the patient had a personality disorder which was consistent with a diagnosis of factitious disorder. Psychiatric management led to the termination of the self‐inflicted illnesses and enabled the patient to cope with his personal and social problems.