Date of Conferral
2-1-2025
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Reba Glidewell
Abstract
This quantitative predictive study examined comfort and knowledge as predictors of an accurate Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA) diagnosis among master-level mental health counseling professionals in Washington State. This study also explores why researchers have struggled to develop a collective body of knowledge that can predict an accurate diagnosis of FDIA. The person-centered theory model guided this research. Data from the online platform SurveyMonkey was used to collect participant demographics, answers to the diagnostic questionnaire, and answers to the knowledge and comfort survey. All data collection took place between June and July 2024 and all data collected was electronically gathered. Binary Logistic regression results indicated that both comfort and knowledge were not statistically significant and did not predict an accurate diagnosis of FDIA. However, the Hosmer and Lemeshow Test did suggest that comfort could be an overall better predictor of an accurate FDIA diagnosis over knowledge of the disorder. These findings indicate that variables other than comfort and knowledge should be considered when predicting an accurate diagnosis of FDIA. Implications for positive social change include preventing harm to victims by understanding that FDIA has a higher likelihood of danger than other mental health diagnoses. To effect social change, master-level mental health professionals must know about mental health disorders that have the potential for increased criminal behavior.
Recommended Citation
Gartin, Ari, "Comfort and Knowledge as Predictors of an Accurate Diagnosis of Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another Among Counseling Professionals" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 16946.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/16946
