FACTITIOUS TRIPLEGIA - CASE-REPORT

A 37-year-old woman was admitted for rehabilitation of triplegia with diagnoses of conversion disorder and possible multiple sclerosis. Atte mpts to manage the patient with techniques often effective with conver sion disorders were unsuccessful, and the patient was discharged to a nursing home. After the development of further symptoms and a second e xtensive medical work-up, the factitious nature of her symptoms became evident. Awareness of the characteristics of factitious disorders, ea rly background investigation, and psychiatric consultation can facilit ate the appropriate management and referral of these patients, and spa re rehabilitation providers the frustrations and possible medicolegal complications of patients with this disorder. (C) 1994 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physi cal Medicine and Rehabilitation