Munchausen syndrome is best described as which of the following?

• A. Somatic symptom disorder
• B. Malingering
• C. Illness anxiety disorder
• D. A factitious disorder where a person falsifies symptoms

Answer: (D)

The key idea is intentional fabrication of symptoms to assume the sick role. Munchausen syndrome is a factitious disorder, where a person deliberately falsifies or creates medical symptoms, often seeking attention and care from healthcare providers, without obvious external benefits. This distinguishes it from malingering, where there is a clear external incentive (like financial gain, avoidance of work, or legal issues). It also differs from somatic symptom disorder, where symptoms are real (or felt to be real) but not purposely produced, and from illness anxiety disorder, where the concern is about having an illness rather than fabricating symptoms. In modern terminology, this is described as Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self, with Munchausen being the historical name for the presentation.