Munchausen syndrome is a mental disorder of a serious nature in which an individual with an extremely intense need for attention fakes injuries or illnesses. Those suffering from this condition frequently make up symptoms, insist on having risky treatment, or attempt to skew laboratory results to generate sympathy and concern from those around them. Any person who has reviewed Munchausen syndrome stories has discovered that those afflicted with this disorder need psychiatric care.
The syndrome is named after a German baron who drew a considerable amount of attention to himself by telling fabricated and elaborate stories about his own life. A well-known British doctor named Richard Ashlar created the phrase Munchausen syndrome as a term to describe patients who deliberately told lies about their symptoms or exaggerated their illnesses to get attention.
Producing or faking sicknesses or injuries is classic behavior of those suffering from this psychological disorder. They do so in order to fulfill deep emotional needs. Medical researchers have not yet determined why such individuals cannot meet their needs in ways that are normal and healthy. Munchausen sufferers often go to extravagant lengths to cover up their deceptive behavior. Subsequently, they are often not diagnosed for many years, if ever.
It is important to understand that this condition is different from behavior such as inventing health problems to enjoy some type of benefit. For instance, faking an injury to win a lawsuit or pretending to be sick in order to skip work are simply deceptive measures used as a means to an end. Individuals afflicted with the syndrome mentioned above, however, usually continue their behavior long-term, often for their whole life, until they are discovered by another individual or their healthcare practitioner.
The disorder should also not be confused with hypochondria. The latter is a condition in which individuals truly believe they are going to be diagnosed with an illness or injury. Those with Munchausen syndrome are not sick or injured, they merely want other individuals to think they are, and will frequently take extreme measures to ensure that others believe they are truly afflicted with a health problem.
Stories about those afflicted with this disorder are sometimes startling to well-adjusted individuals. For example, one Munchausen sufferer rubbed coffee grains into a cut in order to infect it, after reading that used coffee grains can harbor bacteria that can lead to infections. Another individual purposely consumed aspirin even though she knew she was allergic to the drug. These extreme measures are often taken by those who are disturbed in this way in order to "prove" they are truly sick or injured.
There is also a form of this disorder that is acted out by proxy. The latter refers to those who purposely injure other individuals, or attempt to make them ill. The objective of this behavior is usually to attract attention from others as the long-suffering caretaker. Children are often targeted as victims by adults suffering from this condition.
Even though well-adjusted people often find Munchausen syndrome stories disturbing, the condition is treatable. If the appropriate psychiatric care is pursued, recovery for such individuals is often possible. Those who think that someone they know, or themselves, are suffering from the syndrome should pursue medical help at once.
The syndrome is named after a German baron who drew a considerable amount of attention to himself by telling fabricated and elaborate stories about his own life. A well-known British doctor named Richard Ashlar created the phrase Munchausen syndrome as a term to describe patients who deliberately told lies about their symptoms or exaggerated their illnesses to get attention.
Producing or faking sicknesses or injuries is classic behavior of those suffering from this psychological disorder. They do so in order to fulfill deep emotional needs. Medical researchers have not yet determined why such individuals cannot meet their needs in ways that are normal and healthy. Munchausen sufferers often go to extravagant lengths to cover up their deceptive behavior. Subsequently, they are often not diagnosed for many years, if ever.
It is important to understand that this condition is different from behavior such as inventing health problems to enjoy some type of benefit. For instance, faking an injury to win a lawsuit or pretending to be sick in order to skip work are simply deceptive measures used as a means to an end. Individuals afflicted with the syndrome mentioned above, however, usually continue their behavior long-term, often for their whole life, until they are discovered by another individual or their healthcare practitioner.
The disorder should also not be confused with hypochondria. The latter is a condition in which individuals truly believe they are going to be diagnosed with an illness or injury. Those with Munchausen syndrome are not sick or injured, they merely want other individuals to think they are, and will frequently take extreme measures to ensure that others believe they are truly afflicted with a health problem.
Stories about those afflicted with this disorder are sometimes startling to well-adjusted individuals. For example, one Munchausen sufferer rubbed coffee grains into a cut in order to infect it, after reading that used coffee grains can harbor bacteria that can lead to infections. Another individual purposely consumed aspirin even though she knew she was allergic to the drug. These extreme measures are often taken by those who are disturbed in this way in order to "prove" they are truly sick or injured.
There is also a form of this disorder that is acted out by proxy. The latter refers to those who purposely injure other individuals, or attempt to make them ill. The objective of this behavior is usually to attract attention from others as the long-suffering caretaker. Children are often targeted as victims by adults suffering from this condition.
Even though well-adjusted people often find Munchausen syndrome stories disturbing, the condition is treatable. If the appropriate psychiatric care is pursued, recovery for such individuals is often possible. Those who think that someone they know, or themselves, are suffering from the syndrome should pursue medical help at once.
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