2007-02-26 09:23:51 · 8 answers · asked by Gardenfoot 4 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Munchausen syndrome is a psychiatric disorder in which those affected feign disease, illness, or psychological trauma in order to draw attention or sympathy to themselves. It is in a class of disorders known as factitious disorders which involve "illnesses" whose symptoms are either self-induced or falsified by the patient. It is also sometimes known as Hospital addiction syndrome
In Munchausen syndrome, the affected person feigns, exaggerates, or creates symptoms of illnesses in himself or herself in order to gain investigation, treatment, attention, sympathy and comfort from medical personnel. The role of "patient" is a familiar and comforting one, and it fills a psychological need in people with Munchausen's. It is distinct from hypochondria in that the patient is aware that he is exaggerating, while sufferers of hypochondria actually believe they have a disease.
2007-02-26 09:30:47 · answer #1 · answered by danadee l 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Munchhausen syndrome is when a parent mostly a woman will make her child sick so she can get attention from dr.'s and nurses. Who of course will feel sorry for the mother because her child is very, very ill. The child will almost get better then the mother will cause the child to get very sick again. Hypochondriac is someone who always thinks they're sick .. I don't know the name for the type of disorder your talking about.. But i dint' think it's Munchhausen or Hypochondriac.
2007-02-26 09:52:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes...it's an attention seeking disorder......sounds a bit like munchausens. ie....on their headstone it will read.....I told you I was ill. munchausens is the seeking of attention for oneself through medical means...some even poison themselves to get attention. munchausen byproxy is the sufferer making some one else ill to get attention for themselves...ie their kids, spouse.
or could just be a hypochondriac.
2007-02-26 09:34:41 · answer #3 · answered by bealiebum 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup...
Ever see that episode of ER when that really fat gross lady was always trying to swallow the medical instruments so that she could get an operation to have them removed?
It is not common, but it does exist. I forget what it is called?
2007-02-26 09:33:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe someone who is a hypochondriac and likes all the attention.
2007-02-26 09:43:10 · answer #5 · answered by devilgal031948 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it may be possible, since there are people who are addicted to cosmetic surgery.
2007-02-26 09:30:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hypochondriasis, I imangine.
Munchhausen's is like that for kids, whose parents make them paranoid of being sick.
2007-02-26 09:32:25 · answer #7 · answered by starryeyed 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check addictions.com.
2007-02-26 09:32:16 · answer #8 · answered by stormy 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋