Originally, this term was used for all factitious disorders. Now, however, in the DSM-5, "Munchausen syndrome" and "Munchausen by proxy" have been replaced with "factitious disorder imposed on self" and "factitious disorder imposed on another" respectively.
Munchausen syndrome (also known as factitious disorder) is a rare type of mental disorder in which a person fakes illness. The person may lie about symptoms, make themselves appear sick, or make themselves purposely unwell.
The change from Munchausen syndrome by proxy to factitious disorder imposed on another provides a more accurate description of a person's behavior. This new name is more specific.
In the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the diagnosis of factitious disorder imposed on another includes the disorder originally known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP), a term that continues to be commonly used by the general public.
Continuing Education Activity. Factitious disorder imposed on self, formerly known as Munchausen syndrome, is a psychiatric disorder in which a person assumes the role of a sick patient without the intention of external gain.
Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a mental illness and a form of child abuse. The caretaker of a child, most often a mother, either makes up fake symptoms or causes real symptoms to make it look like the child is sick.
Factitious disorder symptoms can range from mild (slight exaggeration of symptoms) to severe (previously called Munchausen syndrome). The person may make up symptoms or even tamper with medical tests to convince others that treatment, such as high-risk surgery, is needed.
Perhaps the most publicized recent case is that of Dee Dee Blanchard. Blanchard kept her daughter Gypsy in a wheelchair throughout her life. In addition, Blanchard claimed Gypsy had leukemia, muscular dystrophy, and other ailments.
Perhaps one of the most insidious and most dangerous of all the behavior a narcissist can exhibit is Munchausen by proxy syndrome. This crime includes the narcissist causing or making up illnesses and injuries in their children. They do this to appear as the victim and hero in other people's eyes (Vaknin, 2015).
Munchausen syndrome refers to someone deliberately and persistently faking their physical or mental illness symptoms or magnifying signs or symptoms of an illness. When the person shows this behavior toward someone else, like a child, it's referred to as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
In the past Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA) in children was referred to as Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP). The new definition was coined because it describes a behavioral pattern rather than an underlying psychiatric syndrome, and it therefore is more accurate than MSbP [1–3].
They do this to gain sympathy or for attention. Someone who has MSP may purposely take action to make their child sick. They knowingly will expose the child to painful or risky medical procedures, even surgeries.
Munchausen syndrome may be caused by parental neglect and abandonment, or other childhood trauma. As a result of this trauma, a person may have unresolved issues with their parents that cause them to fake illness.
By common usage, the term “Munchausen syndrome” has tended to be used much more for men than for women. Published reports suggest that two thirds of patients with Munchausen syndrome are male, whereas in the more common non-Munchausen forms of factitious physical disorders, females outnumber males by three to one.
Munchausen syndrome by proxy may be seen as opposite of medical neglect. Instead of the family's underproviding medical services, it overprovides them, sometimes by exaggerating symptoms or sometimes by falsifying symptoms and laboratory findings.
Fabricated or Induced Illness by Carers has also been referred to as Munchausen by Proxy; Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome; Meadow's Syndrome; Factitious Disorder by Proxy; and Fictitious Disorder by Proxy.
Narcissistic mothers often use shame, gaslighting, dismissal and manipulation in order to get their own needs met, which can leave their daughters feeling like their mother's behaviors were their fault.
Narcissistic parents are often emotionally abusive to their children, holding them to impossible and constantly changing expectations. Those with narcissistic personality disorder are highly sensitive and defensive. They tend to lack self-awareness and empathy for other people, including their own children.
Some of the most well known serial killers have been diagnosed with narcissism; Ted Bundy and Jeffery Dahmer are both known to have NPD.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard grew up with her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, making claims about her health that resulted in a series of dire diagnoses and medical interventions. However, Gypsy wasn't actually unwell — her mother had been lying about her symptoms.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, now 28, is believed to have been a victim of Munchausen by proxy – a form of abuse in which the parent or guardian exaggerates or induces illness in a child for attention and sympathy.
Signs of Munchausen's syndrome
having symptoms that do not match with test results. having symptoms that get worse for no clear reason. having very good medical knowledge. being willing to undergo often painful or dangerous tests and procedures.
Mothers have been found to perpetrate most Munchausen syndrome by proxy cases because women are more likely to be the primary caregivers to their children, so they have more opportunity to carry out the abuse undetected, according to Feldman.
Age and Gender
People with FD tend to be women aged 20 to 40 years and employed in medical fields, such as nursing or medical technology. Persons with chronic FD (Munchausen's syndrome) tend to be unmarried, middle-aged men who are estranged from their families.
Most people with this condition do not believe they have factitious disorder. They may not be entirely aware of why they are inducing their own illness. Many people with factitious disorder may also suffer from other mental disorders, particularly personality or identity disorders.