If you have heard of Munchausen Syndrome before, it’s far more likely you’ve seen it represented in popular culture than in real life. Like a lot of psychological syndromes, it’s used as a dramatic device in many films and series, like Sharp Objects or The Politician to name just a couple.

The most recent example is The Act, which was created by Nick Antosca and Michelle Dean, and first appeared on Hulu in 2019. The series was inspired by a real-life case in the United States, and tells the story of a mother who convinces her daughter and the world that she suffers from leukemia, muscular dystrophy, and other disorders.

Why would anyone do something like that? Where does the Munchausen part come from? Why is this syndrome so prevalent in pop culture? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !

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A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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