Where Does Munchausen’s Syndrome Get Its Name From?

Health conditions tend to have clear reasons for their names. For example, those who feel anxious may be diagnosed with Anxiety, or those who are often depressed may have Depression.

But Munchausen’s Syndrome (or Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy) has an unusual name. These conditions are classed as Somatic Disorders.

In this article, we take a look at where the name of this condition comes from. In short, it relates to the actions of a nobleman called Baron Munchausen.

Definitions

The name of Munchausen’s Syndrome and Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy have become known as Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self and Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another respectively.

Here are the definitions of the conditions:

Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self (Munchausen’s Syndrome): Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self is a mental health condition which involves a person acting like they have a physical or mental illness. The person actively feigns their symptoms and will often hurt themselves to cause the symptoms.

Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy): Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another is a mental health disorder that is characterised by a person acting as if someone in their care has a physical or mental illness. Someone with this condition will fabricate an illness in those under their care – typically a child.

Baron Munchausen

Baron Karl Friedrich Hieronymus Munchausen was a nobleman from the 18th century. He was from Germany.

He was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1720. Munchausen was known for telling exaggerated tales about his expeditions from the past.

His stories included fighting crocodiles, riding cannonballs, and travelling to the moon.

While Munchausen’s tales were very entertaining, they were implausible. So, like Munchausen’s tales were elaborate yet false, the same could be said for those with Munchausen’s Syndrome.

German writer Rudolf Erich Raspe fictionalised these tales in a 1785 book called “Baron Munchausen’s Narrative of His Marvellous Travels and Campaigns in Russia.”

Munchausen himself was said to not be impressed by the book and was believed to have sought legal action. Clearly though, his reputation lived on.

In the modern era

London physician Richard Asher was believed to be the first medical professional to describe the syndrome that would become known as Munchausen’s Syndrome.

Asher had many patients that appeared to be fabricating symptoms and talking about exaggerated medical histories.

Then, the term stuck when in 1951, Asher used it in The Lancet journal. It took until 1980 for Munchausen’s Syndrome to be listed as a psychiatric disorder.

Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy was eventually seen as a subtype of Munchausen’s Syndrome. Therefore, this provided a distinction between those who imposed an illness on themselves and those who imposed an illness on another.

Then in 2013, the term ‘Munchausen’ was dropped, with the world of mental health moving towards the current approach of Factitious Disorder.

It seems that the current incarnation of the condition will remain in place for the foreseeable future. The current approach seems to make sense.

Summary

So while the name ‘Munchausen’ may no longer be used, the legacy lives on. The Factitious Disorders are often still referred to as Munchausen’s.

For more information on these conditions, you can see our section on Somatic Disorders. Additionally, our website has plenty of information.

See Also

• What Are The Differences Between Malingering and Factitious Disorder?
• What is the “Fight, Flight, or Freeze” Response in Mental Health?
• What is Malingering? Malingering in Mental Health Analysed
• Gypsy Rose and Dee Dee Blanchard: A Match Made in Hell