Better Health Channel
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
  • Munchausen syndrome is a rare type of mental disorder where a patient fakes illness to gain attention and sympathy.
  • It’s hard to diagnose because many other conditions need to be ruled out first.
  • Treatment aims to manage rather than cure the condition, but is rarely successful.
  • Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MBP) is the old term for a form of abuse where a person either fakes or produces symptoms in someone else, usually their child. This is now called ‘fabricated or induced illness by carers’ (FIIC) and is different to Munchausen syndrome.

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Reviewed on: 18-10-2022