Barbie has complained of an unexplained illness for several years. She has had many painful and high-risk surgeries and other treatments, which she has willingly undergone. In fact, she seems to enjoy playing the "sick role." She gets extremely angry when anyone questions whether she really has an actual physical problem. These symptoms suggest that Barbie suffers from ____.
A) malingering
B) somatic symptom disorder
C) factitious disorder
D) illness anxiety disorder

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Barbie's behavior aligns with factitious disorder, where an individual deliberately produces or exaggerates symptoms of illness for psychological reasons, such as gaining attention or sympathy, rather than for external incentives like malingering.

Barbie Has Complained of an Unexplained Illness for Several Years