Münchausen syndrome  

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Münchausen syndrome is a term for psychiatric disorders known as factitious disorders wherein those affected feign disease, illness, or psychological trauma in order to draw attention or sympathy to themselves. It is also sometimes known as hospital addiction syndrome or hospital hopper syndrome. However there is discussion to reclassify them as somatoform disorder in the DSM-5 as it is unclear whether people are conscious or not of drawing attention to themselves.

Münchausen syndrome is related to Münchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP/MSP), which refers to the abuse of another being, typically a child, as a result of having a psychological disorder.

Description

In Münchausen syndrome, the affected person exaggerates or creates symptoms of illnesses in themselves to gain investigation, treatment, attention, sympathy, and comfort from medical personnel. In some extremes, people suffering from Münchausen's syndrome are highly knowledgeable about the practice of medicine and are able to produce symptoms that result in lengthy and costly medical analysis, prolonged hospital stay and unnecessary operations. The role of "patient" is a familiar and comforting one, and it fills a psychological need in people with Münchausen's. It is distinct from hypochondriasis in that patients with Münchausen syndrome are aware that they are exaggerating, whereas sufferers of hypochondriasis believe they actually have a disease. Risk factors for developing Münchausen syndrome include childhood traumas, and growing up with caretakers who, through illness or emotional problems, were unavailable.

A similar behavior called Münchausen syndrome by proxy has been documented in the parent or guardian of a child. The adult ensures that his or her child will experience some medical affliction, therefore compelling the child to suffer treatment for a significant portion of their youth in hospitals. Furthermore, a disease may actually be initiated in the child by the parent or guardian. This condition is considered distinct from Münchausen syndrome. In fact, there is growing consensus in the pediatric community that this disorder should be renamed "medical abuse" to highlight the real harm caused by the deception and to make it less likely that a perpetrator can use a psychiatric defense when real harm is done. Parents who perpetrate this abuse are often affected by concomitant psychiatric problems like depression, spouse abuse, sociopathy, or psychosis. In rare cases, multiple children in one family may be affected either directly as victims or as witnesses who are threatened to keep them silent.

Illnesses and conditions commonly feigned by Münchausen patients

• Acid reflux
• AIDS
• Allergy
• Anemia
• Anxiety disorder
• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Bipolar disorder (manic depression) Template:Nb5
• Breathing difficulty
• Cancer
• Constipation
• Cushing's syndrome
• Depression
• Dissociative identity disorder Template:Nb10
• Eating disorder
• Fibromyalgia
• Heart disease, myocardial infarction
• Immunodeficiency
• Infection
• Joint pain
• Lupus
• Muscle pain
• Migraine
• Myalgic encephalomyelitis
• Kidney disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Pregnancy
• Psychosis
• Seizure
• Sexual abuse
• Spousal abuse
• Stroke
• Suicidal ideation or suicide attempt

Patients may have multiple scars on abdomen due to repeated "emergency" operations.

Note that many of these conditions do not have clearly observable or diagnostic symptoms.

See also

• Münchausen syndrome by proxy also known as Fabricated or induced illness
• Münchausen by Internet
• Victim playing
• Attention seeking
• Histrionic personality disorder
• Mythomania
• Psychosomatic illness