Conversion Disorder vs Factitious Disorder vs Malingering
Conversion Disorder and Factitious Disorder vs Malingering are easy to mix up on the boards. Here's a side-by-side comparison — presentation, workup, imaging, and first-line treatment — drawn from our full outlines.
Conversion Disorder vs Factitious Disorder vs Malingering at a glance
- Conversion Disorder: Neurologic symptoms (motor, sensory, seizure-like) incompatible with recognized neurologic disease.
- Factitious Disorder vs Malingering: Both involve intentional symptom production; factitious is motivated by the sick role, malingering by external incentive (only factitious is a mental disorder).
Keep comparing — start your free trial
You've used your 2 free previews. Create your free account to see the full Conversion Disorder vs Factitious Disorder vs Malingering comparison — plus all 514 diagnosis outlines, 5,500+ board-style questions, and an AI tutor. Your 7-day free trial includes everything, no credit card required.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Conversion Disorder | Factitious Disorder vs Malingering |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | Neurologic symptoms (motor, sensory, seizure-like) incompatible with recognized neurologic disease. | Both involve intentional symptom production; factitious is motivated by the sick role, malingering by external incentive (only factitious is a mental disorder). |
| Classic presentation | Motor: limb weakness or paralysis, tremor, abnormal gait, dystonia; Sensory: anesthesia or paresthesia in nonanatomic distribution; Special sensory:… | — |
| Workup / key labs | DSM-5-TR: ≥1 altered motor/sensory symptom; clinical findings show incompatibility with known disease (positive signs); not better explained otherwise;… | Factitious: deception with falsification or induction; presents self/other as ill; behavior evident even without external reward; not better explained by… |
| Imaging | MRI brain/spine if focal neurologic symptoms; Video EEG — gold standard for PNES; captures event and confirms absence of epileptiform discharge; Nerve… | — |
| First-line treatment | Clear, confident communication of the diagnosis using positive signs — explain it as a 'software, not hardware' problem; do NOT frame as 'no disease found';… | — |
Drill Conversion Disorder vs Factitious Disorder vs Malingering questions on FirstPassPA
Turn this comparison into retention. 5,500+ board-style questions with an AI tutor that explains every answer — free to start, no card required.
Start studying free → Try today's free questionEducational use only. This outline is a study aid for PA students and is not medical advice or a substitute for clinical judgment. FirstPassPA is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCCPA. PANCE® and PANRE® are registered trademarks of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.