The COVID-19 and Munchausen Syndrome

Yadollah    Abolfathi    Momtaz

Abstract

Currently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some people are pretending to have COVID-19. The pretending to have COVID-19 can be considered as a symptom of Munchausen syndrome. It can be speculated that people with factitious disorders may pretend to have COVID-19 because of an inner need to get the sympathy and special attention from others; therefore, it is imperative that this issue should be studied with a multidisciplinary approach. In addition, people should not share any message from those pretending to have COVID-19 that may result in increasing public stress.

Keywords: COVID-19, Munchausen syndrome, public health, social media, public stress, pandemic.

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Cite As

Coronaviruses

The COVID-19 and Munchausen Syndrome

Abstract