Munchausen syndrome is a mental health disorder in which a person feigns symptoms of illness or injury, presumably to gain the attention of others. It is a form of factitious disorder, in which patients intentionally produce or fake physical or psychological symptoms to convince others they are sick.

Although some medical professionals use the term “Munchausen syndrome” interchangeably with “factitious disorder,” this is not technically correct. Munchausen syndrome is actually a chronic variant of factitious disorder in which the patient complains mostly of physical symptoms (e.g., stomachache, chest pain, fever) rather than psychological ones. Despite this definition, there are examples of Munchausen syndrome that involve mostly psychological symptoms.

Patients who have Munchausen syndrome may make up symptoms, alter diagnostic tests or intentionally injure themselves in order to assume a “sick role” and receive medical attention. Such injuries can lead to serious long-term health problems and even death.

Munchausen syndrome usually starts in early adulthood and may continue on and off for decades. In rare cases, a patient may experience just a single episode of Munchausen syndrome. Munchausen syndrome is different from Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP), a condition in which a parent or other caregiver fabricates or exaggerates the symptoms of someone – usually a child – under their care in order to receive attention in a medical setting.

Although Munchausen syndrome is considered rare, there are no accurate statistics about the condition. People with Munchausen syndrome are surprisingly successful at misleading healthcare professionals. When discovered, patients will usually seek treatment at another healthcare facility.