Laboratory diagnosis of factitious disorder: a systematic review of tools useful in the diagnosis of Munchausen's syndrome.

Aims: To assist clinicians in the diagnosis of factitious disorder.

Methods: This is a systematic review of the role of laboratory, radiologic, procedural, and pathological modalities to assist in the diagnosis of factitious disorder (Munchausen's syndrome). The review evaluated 3104 article titles and abstracts that were identified from MEDLINE as of January 2010.