PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jeffrey S. Janofsky
TI  - The Munchausen Syndrome in Civil Forensic Psychiatry
DP  - 1994 Dec 01
TA  - Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
PG  - 489--497
VI  - 22
IP  - 4
4099  - http://jaapl.org/content/22/4/489.short
4100  - http://jaapl.org/content/22/4/489.full
SO  - J Am Acad Psychiatry Law1994 Dec 01; 22
AB  - The diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome requires that a patient intentionally produce or feign physical symptoms with a psychological need to assume the sick role. To differentiate the disorder from malingering one must document the absence of an external incentive for the patient’s behavior. Although malingering is a major topic of interest in forensic psychiatry, there has been no literature that looks at the Munchausen syndrome presenting in the civil forensic setting. This paper reports on two cases of the Munchausen syndrome that occurred in the areas of medical malpractice and workers’ compensation. The cases highlight how fhe psychiatrist should approach these cases in the civil forensic setting. The malpractice case also illustrates how the disorder is viewed by an appellate court.