For my research I chose the two mental illnesses of hypochondria and Munchausen by proxy. I chose these topics because I have an aunt related by marriage who is thought to have hypochondria and Munchausen by proxy because, like hypochondria, it can be used as a way to get the attention or sympathy of others. I will start with hypochondriasis as it is the disease I am most familiar with. Hypochondriasis is defined in the DSM-IV-TR among the somatoform disorders as “Preoccupation with fear of having, or the idea of ​​having, a serious illness based on the person's misinterpretation of bodily symptoms”. This worry of having an illness will persist even after medical evaluation. In the case of my aunt, who I will call Bertha for the sake of anonymity, she believes she has multiple sclerosis (MS). He said he has had it for as long as I can remember, but shows no symptoms of the disease. One of the symptoms he claims to exhibit is heat intolerance; Everything changed when he decided to go to Israel and his MS was miraculously cured. When my mother twisted her ankle, my aunt Bertha faked an epileptic seizure. We could tell it was false because Aunt Bertha stopped having seizures long enough to put more food in her mouth. She went to three licensed doctors who all said she needed to get psychiatric help because she showed no signs of MS. My aunt Bertha then found an all natural doctor who uses no modern drugs or tests who confirmed her diagnosis of MS. The doctor then prescribed some pills to my aunt saying they were the cure for MS that she had created herself. At present there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, so it is obvious that the doctor is playing with my aunt... . middle of sheet ......ition, Description, demographics, causes and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment. (n.d.). Encyclopedia of Children's Health: From Infancy to Adolescence. Retrieved May 3, 2011, from http://www.healthofchildren.com/M/Munchausen-Syndrome.htmlPham, S. (2011, April 7). Arizona mother charged with poisoning baby; It could be Munchausen syndrome by proxy - ABC News. ABCNews.com: Breaking News, Politics, World News, Good Morning America, Exclusive Interviews - ABC News. Retrieved May 3, 2011, from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/arizona-mother-accused-poisoning-baby-munchausen-syndrome-proxy/story?id=13308998Siegel, D. (2009). Munchausen syndrome by proxy: observations of a pediatrician. Families, Systems and Health, 27(1), 113-115. Taylor, S. (2005). Current directions in the treatment of hypochondriasis. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 19(3), 1-21.