Factitious patients with fictitious disorders: a note on Munchausen's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE OURS: To review historical aspects and note several contemporary manifestations of the Munchausen syndrome, including "Munchausen by proxy" and "pseudo-Munchausen", to offer our respect to the infamous McIIroy (the quintessential example), as well as to encourage interest and assuage irritation by medical attendants. THEIRS: Impatient to be patients, dying to see doctors, hooked on hospitals, and seeking "ill" gotten gains, they thrive on medical investigations.
Parker
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G
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Kensington.
Barrett
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E
D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005197:Famous Persons; D005858:Germany; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis; D009110:Munchausen Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history* / Q000523:psychology; D016735:Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology