What is munchausen syndrome?

Factitious disorder imposed on self is a mental health condition. A person with this condition pretends to be sick, makes themself sick, or injures themself to get attention. Factitious disorder is sometimes called Munchausen syndrome.

The person may:

• Claim that they have symptoms, when none exist.
• Produce false test results, such as by sticking a thermometer in hot water to mimic a fever or by putting bacteria or something else in laboratory test samples.
• Self-inflict injuries, such as cutting the skin.
• Create symptoms, such as causing vomiting by taking medicine.
• Say that symptoms are worse than they really are, such as claiming to have severe pain or bleeding when a milder condition is actually present.
• Request surgical procedures.

Treatment primarily consists of counseling to prevent the affected person from further self-harm and to stop providing unnecessary and potentially harmful medical treatment.