Which disorder includes symptoms that an individual deliberately pretends to have?

The disorder characterized by an individual deliberately pretending to have symptoms is Factitious Disorder. In this condition, a person intentionally produces or exaggerates symptoms of illness to assume the sick role, often without any obvious external incentives, such as financial gain or avoidance of work. The primary motivation is to obtain medical attention and sympathy, allowing the individual to fulfill a psychological need for care and support.

In contrast, hypochondriasis—now more commonly referred to as illness anxiety disorder—involves excessive worry about having a serious illness despite having little or no evidence to support this belief, but without the deliberate fabrication of symptoms. Malingering, which can also involve pretending to be ill, is primarily tied to a specific external incentive, such as financial compensation or avoiding legal responsibilities. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is focused on an individual's obsessive concerns about perceived physical flaws, rather than pretending to have symptoms.