A member asked:

Is there any difference between munchausen syndrome and munchausen syndrome by proxy?

9 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Jason Adler answered

Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care

Munchausen: Munchausen syndrome is a disorder whereby patients feign medical illness or induce harm to themselves in order to receive medical treatment. Munchausen by proxy is a form of child abuse where a caretaker feigns or exaggerates medical illness in a child in order to subject them to unnecessary medical tests or treatment.

Answered 7/21/2014

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Self v. others: This disorder, named for a german storyteller, is a psychiatric condition in which the sufferer knowingly feigns illness and submits themselves to numerous unnecessary treatments including hospitalizations and surgeries. The by proxy type is when a family member, usually a child, is subjected to the same treatments urged on by usually a mother of the child.

Answered 8/13/2014

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