Munchausen syndrome is a serious mental health difficulty where a person fakes or brings on their own illness. It is also called 'factitious disorder imposed on self'.
People with Munchausen syndrome know they are causing their symptoms. But they may not understand why they behave this way or see their behaviour as a problem.
Their main intention may be to take on the 'sick role' so that they get the attention and care that they crave.
They are not looking for other practical benefits, such as claiming illness benefit.
Types of behaviour
People with Munchausen syndrome can behave in a range of ways.
For example, they may:
- create a false medical history that points to having a certain illness
- say they have physical symptoms - for example, chest pain or a stomach ache
- try to get ill - for example, infecting a wound by rubbing dirt into it
Some people may spend years moving from hospital to hospital faking different illnesses. When doctors discover they're causing their own symptoms, they may suddenly leave that hospital and move to another area.
Some people may even have painful or life-threatening surgery (an operation), though they know it's not needed.
Symptoms of Munchausen syndrome
There are 4 main ways people with Munchausen syndrome fake or induce illnesses.
These are:
- faking symptoms - for example, choosing symptoms that are difficult to disprove, such as having a severe headache or pretending to pass out
- tamper (interfere) with test results - for example, heating a thermometer to pretend they have a fever or adding blood to a pee sample
- causing self-harm
- making health conditions worse - for example, reopening healed wounds
Signs that a person may have Munchausen syndrome include:
- going to hospitals in different areas often
- saying they have a history of complex and serious health conditions
- having symptoms that do not match with test results
- having symptoms that get worse for no clear reason
- having very good medical knowledge
- having painful or dangerous tests and procedures often
- saying they have symptoms that are vague and always change
- telling unbelievable and elaborate stories about their past
Factitious disorder by internet
Factitious disorder by internet is where a person joins an internet support group for people with a serious health condition. They say they have the illness themselves.
This can have a negative impact on support groups and online communities.
Fabricated or induced illness
A person may also fake or induce (cause) illness in another person. When this happens it is called fabricated or induced illness by a caregiver.
Hypochondria and malingering
Munchausen syndrome is different than hypochondria (health anxiety) or malingering.
Hypochondria is a mental health disorder where a person has a fear of illness. They think how their body works normally is a sign of illness.
Malingering is faking illness to gain a material benefit. For example, to avoid work or avoid punishment for a criminal offence.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE