Is there a difference between Munnchausens and Munnchausens Syndrome By Proxy?

[LadyOfWaffle]

Thankyou.

by proxy bit means someone else is doing it

I understood MS is when you pretend to be ill to get attention and MSbP is when you feign illness in others to get attention.

I think that the first is about harming the self and the second is about harming others.

I thought By proxy was when you were hurintg or claimng a child/partner was hurt/unwell rather than yourself.

so the former is when someone lies about their sympoms

the latter is where someone else is making the patient ill

Isn't munchausens the syndrome where you self harm secretly to get attention and by proxy when you hurt someone else - often a child?

Well thats what i've always assumed but I know I have also just used Munnhausens' as an abbrevation when talking about 'by proxy'

Munchausens is when an individual makes themselves ill in order to get attention/surgery/treatment etc.

By proxy means the individual with the problem/condition does it to someone else, usually a child or other vulnerable person who is dependent on them.

I see, thankyou In Munnchausens Syndrome /By Proxyis it always making/pretending someone is ill?

There has been some debate about whether this is an actual 'condition' or rather a catch-all term to describe a pattern of behaviour.

Yes classically it is simulation of physical or mental illness in order to obtain medical or psychiatric treatment. Generally it occurs more than once and is carried out deliberately. More commonly referred to as factitious illness syndrome now.

Hmmm... ok, thankyou

This describes the 'by proxy' kind.

why?