Munchausen's syndrome
Munchausen's syndrome is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a patient's need to feign illness or injury in order to receive medical attention or sympathy from others. It is a type of factitious disorder, a group of conditions in which a person deliberately and consistently acts as if they have a physical or mental illness when they are not really sick. Munchausen's syndrome is considered a mental illness because it is associated with severe emotional difficulties.
History[edit | edit source]
Munchausen's syndrome is named after Baron von Munchausen, an 18th-century German officer who was known for embellishing the stories of his life and experiences. The term "Munchausen's syndrome" was first used in medical literature in 1951 by Dr. Richard Asher, a British physician, to describe patients who fabricated their illnesses.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
The primary symptom of Munchausen's syndrome is the feigning of illness or injury in order to gain attention or sympathy. This can involve a variety of behaviors, including self-infliction of harm, falsifying medical records, and exaggeration of symptoms. Patients with Munchausen's syndrome often have a detailed knowledge of medical terminology and diseases, which they use to convince others of their illness.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Diagnosing Munchausen's syndrome can be challenging, as patients are often very convincing in their presentation of symptoms. Diagnosis typically involves a thorough medical evaluation to rule out true physical or mental illnesses, as well as a psychiatric evaluation to identify any underlying mental health disorders.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for Munchausen's syndrome can be difficult, as patients often deny they are feigning symptoms and resist psychiatric treatment. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy, with the goal of helping the patient understand and change their behavior. In some cases, medication may be used to treat any underlying mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
See also[edit | edit source]
| Munchausen's syndrome Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
