Munchausen’s syndrome
Signs and symptoms ofMunchausen's syndrome may include pretending to be ill or self-harming to aggravate or induce illness.
There are four main ways people with Munchausen's syndrome fake or induce illnesses, including:
Someclues thata personmay haveMunchausen's syndrome include:
Munchausen's by internet is a relatively new phenomenon where a person joins an internet support group for people with a serious health condition, such as cystic fibrosis or leukaemia, and then claims to have the illness themselves.
While these actions may only be confined to the internet, they can have a significant negative impacton support groups and online communities. For example, people with genuine health conditions have reported feelings of betrayal and anger upon discoveringthey've been lied to.
It's been suggested that the followingsignsmay suggestsomeone's online posts may not be genuine. They include:
Find out about Munchausen's syndrome, a psychological and behavioural disorder where someone pretends to be ill or induces symptoms of illness in themselves.
Read about the signs and symptoms of Munchausen's syndrome. A person will often lie about symptoms that are difficult to disprove, such as having a severe headache.