Which disorder involves making oneself deliberately ill?

The disorder that involves deliberately making oneself ill is factitious disorder. Individuals with this disorder intentionally produce or feign physical or psychological symptoms in order to assume the role of a sick person. This behavior is often driven by a deep psychological need for attention and sympathy from others, rather than any external incentives like financial gain or avoidance of responsibilities.

In contrast, conversion disorder involves neurological symptoms that cannot be fully explained by medical conditions, where the individual may experience physical problems that are the result of psychological distress rather than intentional fabrication. Illness anxiety disorder is characterized by an excessive preoccupation with having a serious illness, without the individual intentionally producing symptoms. Somatic symptom disorder involves having physical symptoms that may or may not be linked to a medical condition, but unlike factitious disorder, the symptoms are not intentionally produced by the individual.

Understanding these distinctions is crucial for recognizing the underlying motivations and behaviors associated with each disorder, especially in clinical settings.