Factitious disorders : sociocultural and clinical factors among Saudi patients

Abstract EN

Cultural factors are known to influence the epidemiology of various psychopathological syndromes.

the goal of this article is to analyse the sociocultural and clinical features of factitious disorders in the light of saudi culture.

this case study comprised of five patients [male = 3, female = 2] with factitious disorders who were identified through multiple interviews over a period of decade, i.e., from january 1983 to december 1995.

at a sociodemographic level, most of these patients were characterized by lack of adequate education, dysfunctional marriages and problematic large families.

at an aetiological level, multiple psychosocial factors fairly consistent with the international literature were traced in all patients.

clinically extensive travelling, i.e, peregrination, pseudopathological lying, and aggressive behaviors were less intense in females as compared to their male counterparts which could be attributed to cultural differences.

furthermore, four patients uniquely consulted traditional healers whose responses were varied.

it is tentatively summarized that some components of munchausen's syndrome [ms] are influenced pathoplastically by sociocultural dynamics of saudi arabia.

further researches across cultures are needed for unentangling psychological, social and cultural perspectives of factitious disorders which may finally lead to the development of novel culturally sensitive treatment strategies