Munchausen syndrome drives individuals to fake illnesses for attention, with experts warning of its deep psychological roots and the challenges of treatment
KUALA LUMPUR: Heard of people who claim to be ill or pretend to be sick just to gain attention or sympathy from others?
Many may dismiss such behaviour as mere acting or a desperate plea for attention. However, the reality is that some individuals go to extraordinary lengths — fabricating stories, faking symptoms, injuring themselves, and even undergoing unnecessary medical tests and surgeries — simply to receive hospital treatment.
According to neuropsychiatrist Dr Najwa Hanim Md Rosli of Avisena Specialist Hospital in Shah Alam, such behaviour is closely linked to a mental health condition known as Munchausen syndrome, clinically referred to as factitious disorder.
“Their primary objective is to obtain medical or healthcare-related benefits and through that, they receive attention. Most importantly, they want to remain as a patient,” she said during Bernama Radio’s ‘Solusi Sihat’ programme.
Individuals with the disorder often switch doctors or seek treatment at different hospitals once healthcare professionals begin to suspect something is amiss due to the absence of clinical evidence or laboratory results supporting their claims of illness.
When their deception starts to unravel or they are advised to seek psychiatric evaluation, they may react angrily, claiming their doctors do not trust them. They may also withdraw from their colleagues and remain absent from work for extended periods.
Dr Najwa Hanim said one of the early warning signs of the disorder is that patients often possess extensive medical knowledge acquired through their own research, enabling them to debate with doctors and even recommend specific tests or follow-up procedures.
In some cases, persistent manipulation of medical complaints has reportedly led surgeons to perform unnecessary repeat procedures or operations, including reopening surgical wounds that had already healed completely.
Even more alarming, Munchausen syndrome does not always involve self-inflicted illness. Some individuals may make others under their care — such as a child or spouse — appear sick, a condition known as Munchausen by Proxy.
“Examples of this are often portrayed in fictional films, where a mother deliberately gives her child certain medications or poison so that the child remains ill and continues receiving professional medical treatment.
“Ultimately, the mother gains from all that attention and sympathy generated by the situation… she wants to be seen as a devoted wife or mother who sacrifices her own needs, gives up her career and dedicates herself entirely to caring for her sick child,” she said.
Dr Najwa Hanim added that the desire to feign illness for attention in Munchausen syndrome differs significantly from other conditions that do not involve personal gain, such as conversion disorder — where severe psychological trauma unconsciously manifests as genuine physical symptoms — and malingering, in which individuals intentionally deceive others for material benefits such as insurance claims or medical leave.
Commenting on the psychological factors that drive a person to become “addicted” to being a patient, she said it is often rooted in childhood trauma, emotional neglect or a lack of affection.
“Subconsciously, they may come to believe that attention is only available when they are sick, reflecting memories or experiences they may have had during childhood,” she said.
As for treatment for Munchausen syndrome, Dr Najwa Hanim said psychotherapy remains the main approach to helping patients understand and address the underlying causes of their behaviour. Medication may also be prescribed if they experience accompanying conditions such as depression or anxiety.
“If they recognise the problem and genuinely want to change, there is room for us to help. But if they remain in denial and are not yet ready to seek treatment, the recovery process becomes much more challenging,” she said.
