Why would someone lie about being sick or do terrible things to themselves in order to appear sick?

Factitious disorder, more commonly known as Munchausen syndrome, is a mental health disorder in which people fake serious illness in order to gain sympathy, attention, and support.

A related disorder, Munchausen by proxy, or a factitious disorder imposed on

another, is a form of abuse in which caregivers, often mothers of young children, make up or even

induce illness in their kids. This is to gain sympathy and support. How common are these disorders? Why do they go by so many

different names? What's the difference between factitious disorder or Munchausen syndrome and simply

malingering? Are factitious disorders related to other mental health disorders? Are there effective

therapies? Can a person with factitious disorder be cured of it?

And what about people who lie to strangers on the internet about being sick? Is that a form

of one of these disorders as well?

Welcome to Speaking of Psychology, the flagship podcast of the American Psychological Association that examines

the links between psychological science and everyday life.

I'm Kim Mills.

We have two guests today.

First is Dr. Mark Feldman, a board-certified psychiatrist, clinical professor of psychiatry,

and adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Alabama.

He is an international expert in factitious disorder,

Munchausen syndrome, Munchausen by proxy, and malingering.

He has authored more than 100 research studies and five books on these topics,

including his most recent book, Dying to

Be Ill, True Stories of Medical Deception. Dr. Feldman is a distinguished fellow of the American

Psychiatric Association and has spoken to dozens of media outlets about Munchausen Syndrome.

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