User:Mr. Ibrahem/Factitious disorder imposed on self

Factitious disorder imposed on self, also known as Munchausen syndrome, is a mental disorder in which a person knowingly creates, in themselves, the physical or psychological symptoms of a disease. This occurs without the desire for external gain. Symptoms can vary widely from skin wounds, to seizures, to low blood sugar, to chest pain. Symptoms may be brought about by measures such as eating spoiled food or injecting insulin. It often occurs in episodes.

The cause is unknown. Risk factors child abuse, sexual abuse, and death of a parent at a young age. It is believed that the health problems are created to gain attention from the medical system. Often the presenting symptoms will not match lab or medical imaging findings. There is generally also a history of many hospitalizations. It is a type of factitious disorder and is related to factitious disorder imposed on another, which refers to the abuse of another person, typically a child, in order to seek attention.

Treatment involves being empathetic and counselling. Many; however, decline treatment. Factitious disorder imposed on self is estimated to affect less than 1% of those seeking healthcare. It occurs more often in females than males. Onset is often in early adulthood. The condition was first clearly described in 1951 and named after the fictional character Baron Munchausen.