Munchausen Syndrome Definition

mŭnchouzən, mŭnchhou-
noun
A psychiatric disorder characterized by the repeated fabrication of disease signs and symptoms for the purpose of gaining medical attention.
American Heritage Medicine
Synonyms:
  • Munchausen's syndrome

Origin of Munchausen Syndrome

  • After Baron Karl Friedrich Hieronymus von Münchhausen (because the fabricated diseases recalled his fictionalized accounts of his life)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Munchausen Syndrome Sentence Examples

  • An example is the " Munchausen syndrome by proxy " theory put forward by Professor Sir Roy Meadow and now discredited.

  • Categorized as a factitious disorder (a disorder in which the physical or psychological symptoms are under voluntary control), Munchausen syndrome seems to be motivated by a need to assume the role of a patient.

  • Unlike malingering, there does not seem to be any clear secondary gain (e.g., money) in Munchausen syndrome.

  • Both Munchausen syndrome and Munchausen syndrome by proxy are thought to be rare, but there are no solid statistics on the frequency of either diagnosis.

  • Data on Munchausen syndrome in children and adolescents specifically are very limited.

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