1. Munchausen’s Syndrome What is it?

2. What is Munchausen’s Syndrome? Psychologic disorder where one invents or fakes illness Used to draw attention to people Can be self- induced or tricking others into believing they are sick

3. History of Munchausen Based on a book of fantasy stories, Main character was Baron Munchausen Written by German author Rudolf Raspe in 1765 Turned into an American movie in 1988 Doctors used it to describe fantasy medical conditions 1951 Dr. Richard Asher 1st described someone faking self-harm to get medicine Today it describes all fake illness

4. Why do people have it? Fabricated to get attention Faked receive medical care or medication Parents make up illnesses for kids In all cases - victims are crazy

5. Ways to Cure Munchausen’s Give people faking conditions “sugar” pills or placebo Fake medicine and see if illness stops Then confront patient about his or her false condition

6. People Who Might Have Munchausen’s Eminem’s “Cleaning Out My Closet" Soccer Players who fake injuries Worried Mother’s w/ manic depression Drug Addicts

7. More Celebrity Munchausen’s Grey’s Anatomy House, M.D. ER Nip/Tuck Law & Order: SVU Seinfeld - Scofflaw (Jon Lovitz fakes cancer) All featured episodes for Munchausen’s

8. Bibliography & Works Cited Ivillage website. Munchausen’s Syndrome By Proxy 2/11/07. http://health.ivillage.com/mentalhealth http://health.ivillage.com/mentalhealth Wikipedia website. Munchausen’s Syndrome. 2/11/07. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munchausen_syndrome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munchausen_syndrome Asher, Richard. Munchausen’s Syndrome. Boiling Books Publishing, London, England. 1957. Baron, Leslie. A case of Munchausen Syndrome? Biomedical Monthly January, 1996. P. 32 - 36. ANY QUESTIONS?