Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

What characterizes a factitious disorder by proxy?

1. Deliberate exaggeration of symptoms

2. Repeated hospitalizations without a definitive diagnosis

3. Neglectful caregiving

4. Refusal of medical treatment

The correct answer is: Repeated hospitalizations without a definitive diagnosis

A factitious disorder by proxy is characterized by a caregiver deliberately producing or feigning symptoms in another person, often to gain attention or sympathy. The correct choice reflects that individuals with this disorder often create situations that lead to repeated medical evaluations and hospitalizations for the person under their care, usually a child. These individuals maintain their role as a caregiver while manipulating circumstances to ensure that the person they are caring for remains symptomatic, which ultimately results in numerous hospital visits without a definitive medical diagnosis for the actual patient. This behavior is distinct because it highlights the psychological aspect of the caregiver's need for attention, rather than just the medical symptoms of the individual they are affecting. It also distinguishes itself from situations like neglectful caregiving or refusal of medical treatment, which do not involve the active manipulation of symptoms for personal gain.