ABSTRACT
Munchausen by proxy syndrome (MPS) is a rare form of child maltreatment in which the caretaker, usually the mother, fabricates, simulates, or induces symptoms of physical or psychological illness in a child. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition), which lists all psychological disorders and their symptoms, refers to this set of behaviors as factitious disorder by proxy. While the name in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual is more self-explanatory, the more popular name of Munchausen syndrome has an interesting history. Baron Munchausen was an 18th century German nobleman who joined the Russian military, and later entertained his guests with tales of his adventures in the Russo-Turkish War. The Baron’s stories were essentially true; however, a man by the name of Rudolph Erich Raspe published Baron Munchausen’s Narratives of His Marvelous Travels and Campaigns in Russia in 1785. This book contained outlandish tales attributed to the Baron, including riding cannon balls, escaping from a swamp by pulling himself up by his own hair, and even of travelling to the moon! The Baron sued Raspe, but his suit was unsuccessful. That the Baron actually told these tales seems unlikely, but it became common to use the name Munchausen to mean someone who lies and/or exaggerates the truth (Lasher & Sheridan, 2004).
