Munchausen << MUHNCH haw zuhn >> syndrome is a psychological disorder in which a person who is not sick pretends to be sick or becomes sick on purpose. The name comes from Baron von Munchausen, a literary character in German folk tales, known for exaggerated and boastful claims.
Mental health experts classify Munchausen syndrome as a type of factitious disorder. People with factitious disorder may exaggerate a real illness, fake an illness, or actually make themselves ill. People with factitious disorder know that they are being untruthful. Yet they continue the behavior.
Mental health experts agree that many people with a factitious disorder fake illness to attract attention or sympathy. They sometimes tell other lies to make themselves seem more exciting or interesting. Such individuals do not have any apparent mental illness. But they may have few friends. They may also worry excessively whether people like them.
Physicians use the term Munchausen syndrome for the more serious cases of factitious disorder. People in these cases often make themselves ill instead of simply lying about illness. They may visit hospitals with a variety of self-induced symptoms. If discovered, they may return later or go to a different hospital. A rare form of this disorder is called Munchausen syndrome by proxy. In this form, people create illness in or harm others—often their children—to gain attention for themselves.
Physicians may refer people with factitious disorder to mental health professionals. However, many people with such disorders deny that they are faking illness and will not accept mental health treatment. Some people die accidentally in the process of faking an illness.
