Playing Sick?: Untangling the Web of Munchausen Syndrome, Munchausen by Proxy, Malingering, and Factitious Disorder

By Marc Feldman

Book Overview

Taken from bizarre cases of real patients, Playing Sick? is the first book to chronicle the devastating impact of phony illnesses--factitious disorders and Munchausen syndrome--on patients and caregivers alike. Based on years of research and clinical practice, Playing Sick? provides the clues that can help practitioners and family members recognize these disorders, avoid invasive procedures, and sort out the motives that drive people to hurt themselves and deceive others. With insight and years of hands-on experience, Feldman shows how to get these emotionally ill patients the psychiatric help they need.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415949343
• ISBN13: 9780415949347
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 318 Pages
• Weight: 1.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Playing Sick?: Untangling the Web of Munchausen Syndrome, Munchausen by Proxy, Malingering, and Fact

This book is very insightful into the world of facticious disorders. It helped me cope with my mother who has Munchausen's syndrome. It may not completely solve the why, but it gives the possibilities. I enjoyed the different stories about other people and family members who have fallen victim to these types of people. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

An excellent book

This is a very well-written book and an incredible read. I found it really hard to put down. Dr. Feldman writes about these patients with great compassion and sincerity, but is at least as sympathetic to those who come into contact with them, including their poor families. (What they must go through!) Although I am not a psychiatrist, I do think this book should be compulsory reading for everyone who works in this field.

Judith Jaeger

In "Playsing Sick?" Dr. Marc Feldman opens a window onto the minds of those whose need for love and nurturance drives them to the extremes of fraud, emotional abuse and even self mutilation. Malingering, factitious disorder and Munchausen Syndrome are often misunderstood by the general public, but Dr. Feldman offers clear explanations of these behaviors and illustrates them with real cases. His examination of Munchausen by Proxy is particularly compelling and includes the all important distinction between Munchausen by Proxy and factitious disorder. MBP is not a disorder, Dr. Feldman argues, but abuse. In my opinion, the two should never be confused. "Playing Sick?" is a must read for anyone who works in psychology and related fields, such as social work. But it is also a fascinating read for the nonpsychologist.

Excellent introduction to the subject from an expert

This book covers poorly-understood forms of deceptive behavior with compassion for both the deceivers and the deceived. Dr. Feldman has been an acknowledged expert in this area for many years, and brings the fruits of his thinking, studying, and case involvement. Well worth a read!