Münchausen Syndrome is a psychiatric disorder characterized by the patient causing or feigning physical or psychological disorders for the sole purpose of being hospitalized. A psychiatric nurse sees about one or two Münchausen cases per month (interview with John Hauber, RN). Of the entire U.S. population, only half to two percent of people have the disorder (medicinenet.com), but the number is likely higher because the statistic shown only represents the number of people diagnosed with it disease, and not everyone who has Munchausen's disease. is correctly identified as having the disorder. (Interview with John Hauber, Navy). The numbers are higher in some subpopulations, such as people diagnosed with psychosis or fever of unknown origin (medicinenet.com). It is also extremely difficult to obtain accurate statistics due to dishonesty and the tendency of patients to jump from one healthcare facility to another (my.clevelandclinic.org). Munchausen syndrome has been described since at least biblical times. An example of historical documentation would be that it was recognized that people during the medieval era scratched off their skin and put leeches in their mouths to cause bleeding (medicinenet.com). Münchausen syndrome was named in 1951 by Richard Asher (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), for Baron Karl Friedrich von Münchausen. Baron was born in Germany in 1720 and died in 1797. He was known for telling whimsical stories about battles fought against the Ottoman Empire while conscripted into the Russian army (ncbi.nlm.gov). Many people confuse Münchausen syndrome and Münchausen syndrome by proxy as the same thing. While it is true that they are very similar, they are… middle of the paper… medications to treat the underlying cause of Munchausen syndrome, which may be depression, anxiety, or other reasons. Such drugs may include Prozac or Wellbutrin and others. Works Cited "Munchausen Syndrome". my.cleavlandclinic.org December 27, 2010. Cleveland Clinic. February 21, 2014. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/factitious_disorders/hic_munchausen_syndrome.aspx“Todd S Elwyn – Factitious Disorder Imposed on the Self.” emedicine.medscape.com. 2014. March 10, 2014. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/291304-overviewR, Olry. "The story of a strange mental disorder." Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. April 08, 2014. http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/12422889/Dryden-Edwards, Roxanne. "Munchausen Syndrome". MedicineNet.com. 01 08 2012. Web. 13 April 2014. http://www.medicinenet.com/munchausen_syndrome/article.htmInterview with John Hauber, RN. Interview with anonymous.