SOMATIC DISORDERS
Somatic Disorders are characterised by having symptoms that can’t be explained by a medical condition. There are two groups: the liars and the honest.
Munchausen’s by proxy- the patient fabricates an illness in someone they care for (usually a child or elderly person). They get a thrill out of being caretakers. This is child/elder abuse. I read about a nurse who convinced her son that he had leukemia. She poisoned her son for years to make him feel bad, and she was even able to trick the doctors for a while by manipulating lab tests.
Pseudocyesis - false pregnancy. Caused by stress. The b-HCG levels will be normal, but their belly and uterus will enlarge. Can happen in men!!! (it’s a somatic disorder but it doesn’t fall into any of the above categories)