Describe factitious disorder imposed on self (formerly known and Munchausen Syndrome). What are the key symptoms? Why would someone fake a serious illness - what is their motivation? 

a)Self-Inflicted Factitious Disorder

Factitious disorder imposed on self is a type of mental illness in which an individual fabricates or imagines an illness in order to get attention or sympathy, most frequently an exaggerated physical condition such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, or insect stings. Typically, this habit begins in early childhood. By proxy, these behaviors are referred to as Munchausen syndrome. By proxy, Munchausen syndrome is the act of fabricating illnesses and symptoms, or exaggerating or creating medical symptoms in another person, most often a kid, in order to garner attention. The one who does this is extremely concerned with how others see and care for them.

b)The Critical Symptoms

Individuals who have created a factitious condition on themselves will devise numerous techniques to feign a terrible illness. They will do so to garner attention, compassion, and concern. Often, the problem begins with a basic fabrication but evolves into something more complicated over time. As the sickness progresses, it necessitates lengthier hospital stays and further medical treatments.

Exaggerating or creating disease symptoms that are not existent; repeated visits to the emergency department; and stating that medical professionals have given them a diagnosis when they have not. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual lists these symptoms (DSM IV).

Intentional administration of medications, poisons, or other substances is another sign of this disease. They will produce symptoms that are deemed to be serious by medical professionals. The illness typically manifests in maturity, and individuals with it may have been subjected to physical or sexual abuse as children. Additionally, a history of hospitalization as a youngster may contribute to this illness. Munchausen Syndrome patients have extremely low self-esteem and will go to considerable measures to attract attention. Additionally, it has been reported that individuals with this disease have interpersonal issues. Additionally, it is difficult to differentiate factitious sickness imposed on oneself from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or conversion disorder, although it is feasible to discern evidence that the individual has lied and exaggerated about their illness(s) or symptoms.

c)Example of Fake Serious Illness and the  Motivation
It's difficult to provide a definitive response because the underlying causes of these behaviors are complex. However, there are certain aspects that many persons share in terms of their motivation for self-imposed factitious disorder. These variables might be classified as psychological, social, or cognitive. To comprehend the reasons for this conduct, one must consider the likelihood that the individual was mistreated throughout their childhood. Abuse can take the form of physical, emotional, or sexual assault. When they were children, some people were ignored or abandoned by their parents. A person may have an unconscious desire for care and attention from others or an unconscious desire to punish oneself via misery. Additionally, the individual may have a personality issue, such as borderline personality disorder or antisocial personality disorder.

Alternatively, other ideas indicate that the behavior may be a result of a mental disease. It's difficult to detect this in brain scans and symptoms because the majority of these activities are fabricated or imagined. Self-inflicted factitious condition may also be a self-medicating attempt to cure another mental illness, such as sadness or anxiety. This could be because the individual has run out of alternative options or simply wishes to maintain their habit. Finally, it is possible that this is a sort of attention-seeking behavior. This is because the fabricated symptoms are frequently fairly dramatic and gradually worsen over time, much like attention-seeking actions such as petty criminality.

There is no cure for factitious condition inflicted on oneself, but it can be treated and controlled through psychotherapy, which focuses on learning to manage one's emotions and improving interpersonal interactions. When a person is diagnosed with a self-imposed factitious disorder, they should not be handled by someone who is not trained to detect it. This may result in the individual inflicting harm on themselves or others.

Medication can be used to treat a symptom of a problem but not to treat the underlying mental illness or personality disorder. Two classes of drugs are regarded beneficial in the treatment of this behavior: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and atypical antipsychotics. Treatment must take into account the individual's mental disease, personality, and drug or alcohol usage. Treatment varies according to the type of substance taken and may include group therapy, individual counseling, family education, or a mix of these.

In conclusion, self-imposed factitious disorder is a rare psychiatric condition. It is a behavior that has been observed most frequently among hospitalized or institutionalized people who have had treatment at multiple facilities in the past. This conduct is mostly motivated by a desire to obtain care and attention from others, particularly medical professionals. Individuals who have imposed factitious disorder on themselves may have been abused as children or may be seeking therapy for another mental condition.

Step-by-step explanation

a)Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self.

It refers to a mental disorder where an individual fakes or imagines that he or she has an illness for attention or sympathy, often an exaggerated physical illness such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and  insect bites. This behavior usually starts in early childhood. Moreover, a behavior known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, is the act of inventing illnesses and symptoms, or exaggerating or inducing physical symptoms in someone else, especially a child, in order to get attention. The person who does this is very concerned with how they are viewed and cared for by others.

b)The Key symptoms

The individual with factitious disorder imposed on self will come up with different ways to fake a serious illness. They will do this in order to get attention, sympathy and care. The problem often starts as a simple lie but will become more elaborate over time. As the illness becomes more complicated, it requires longer periods in hospital and more medical procedures.

Key symptoms of this disorder include exaggerating or fabricating illness symptoms that are not actually present; frequent trips to the emergency room; and claiming that medical professionals have given them a diagnosis when they have not. These symptoms can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV).

Another symptom of this disorder is the intentional administration of drugs, poisons or other substances. They will cause symptoms that are considered medically serious. The disorder usually occurs during adulthood and people with this disorder may have suffered from physical or sexual abuse as children. Additionally, another factor that may lead to this disorder is a history of having been treated in a hospital as a child. People with Munchausen Syndrome have very low self esteem and will go to great lengths to gain attention. It has also been noted that people with this disorder experience interpersonal difficulties. In addition,  It is hard  to distinguish factitious disorder imposed on self from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or conversion disorder, but it is possible to identify the signs that the person has lied and exaggerated about their illness(s) or symptoms.

c)Fake  Serious Illness Examples and their Motivation
It is hard to give a specific answer because the reasons for these behaviors are complex. However, there are some common factors that many people have in regards to the motivation for factitious disorder imposed on self. These factors can be divided into three categories: psychological, social and cognitive. In order to understand the reasons for this behavior, one must take into account the possibility that a person might have been abused in their childhood. This abuse can be physical, emotional or sexual. Some people were neglected or abandoned by their parents when they were children. An individual may have an unconscious need for care and attention from others or an unconscious drive to punish themselves by suffering. Additionally, the individual may have a personality issue, such as borderline personality disorder or antisocial personality disorder.

Other theories suggest that the behavior could be caused by a mental illness. It is hard to find evidence of this in brain scans and symptoms because most of these behaviors are intentionally faked or imagined. Factitious disorder imposed on self may also be an attempt to self-medicate and treat another mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. This can be because the person may run out of other options or because they want to keep their habit going. Finally, it may be a form of attention-seeking behaviour. This is because the symptoms that are faked are often quite dramatic and increase over time, just like attention-seeking behaviors like petty crime.

There is no cure for factitious disorder imposed on self but it can be treated and managed with psychotherapy, which is a treatment that works on learning to manage emotions and improve relationships with others. In cases where a person has been diagnosed with factitious disorder imposed on self, they should not be handled by someone who is not trained to recognize it. This can lead to the individual harming themselves or others.

Medication can be used as a way of managing a symptom of the condition but not the underlying mental illness or personality disorder. There are two medications that are considered to be effective for treating this behaviour: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and atypical antipsychotics. The treatment must take into account the person's mental illness, their personality and whether they have used drugs or alcohol. Treatment will vary depending on the type of drug being used and may include group therapy, individual therapy, family education or any combination of these.

In conclusion, factitious disorder imposed on self is an uncommon psychiatric disorder. It is a behaviour that has been observed mostly in hospitalized or institutionalized patients who have been treated several times in the past at different hospitals. The main reason for this behavior is to receive care and attention from others, especially medical professionals. People with factitious disorder imposed on self may have suffered abuse as a child or they may be seeking treatment for another mental illness.