Munchausen Syndrome, also known as Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self, is a psychological disorder wherein an individual deliberately acts as if they have a physical or mental illness when they are not really sick. People with this syndrome deliberately produce or exaggerate symptoms in several ways. They may lie about symptoms, tamper with medical tests to convince others of the presence of illness, or purposefully harm themselves to produce symptoms. This behavior is often driven by a deep-seated need for attention and sympathy from medical professionals and others. Munchausen Syndrome is a serious mental illness that involves chronic manipulation and deception, and it is distinct from hypochondria where individuals actually believe they are sick.
