Munchausen Syndrome

Munchausen Syndrome A middle aged woman complaining of an abnormally high fever; a thirty-something blue collar worker having multiple seizures a day; a college student mysteriously contracting infection after infection. Is this a medical mystery, or are the patients intentionally harming themselves for the attention that their “illness” gives them? Strangely enough, many patients either feign their condition or infect themselves with disease in order to attract medical attention. How is this psychological illness different …

…have to recognize the limits of their authority. People have the right in our society to make unfortunate decisions in their lives. In all disorders, the best form of treatment is prevention. Proper education of all health care professionals is crucial. If we can find ways to reduce the neediness and desperation so many people feel, or if their needs for nurturance can be better met, it may also reduce the incidence of Munchausen Syndrome.