Factitious disorder imposed on self

Factitious disorder imposed on self (FDIS), commonly called Munchausen syndrome, is a complex mental disorder in which an individual imitates symptoms of illness in order to elicit attention, sympathy, or physical care. Patients with FDIS intentionally falsify or induce signs and symptoms of illness, trauma, or abuse to assume this role. These actions are performed consciously, though the patient may be unaware of their motivations. There are several risk factors and signs associated with this illness and treatment is usually in the form of psychotherapy, but may depend on the specific situation, which is further discussed below. Diagnosis is usually determined by meeting specific DSM-5 criteria after ruling out true illness as described below.

Factitious disorder imposed on self is related to factitious disorder imposed on another, the abuse of another person in order to seek attention or sympathy for the abuser. This is "Munchausen by proxy", and the drive to create symptoms for the victim can result in unnecessary and costly diagnostic or corrective procedures. Other similar and often confused syndromes and diagnoses are discussed in the "Related diagnoses" section.

History and terminology

That patients can exaggerate or inflict symptoms on themselves has been recognized since antiquity, with the second century manuscript attributed to Galen titled On Feigned Diseases and the Detection of Them. In 1843, the Scots physician Hector Gavin invented the term "factitious disease" to describe persons who faked medical symptoms for sympathy, attention or "some inexplicable cause".