A mental disorder, or disease, is defined as "a mental condition... characterized primarily by sufficient disorganization of the personality, mind, and emotions to seriously impair normal psychological functioning of the individual" (Merriam & Webster, 2014). Mental illness affects approximately 1 in 4 people in the United States over the age of 18, or 26.2%. Of that 26.2%, 6% suffer from a mental disorder considered serious and 45% have characteristics that meet the criteria for more than one mental disorder. Every day, 6.7% of US citizens suffer from depression, 1.5% suffer from dysthymic disorder, 2.6% show signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder, 1.1% are diagnosed with schizophrenia, 18.1% suffer from anxiety and 13.8% of the population is battling conditions such as eating disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or a personality disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, 2014). Munchausen syndrome by proxy is another mental illness that affects 1 in 1 million to 2.8 in 100,000 people. Munchausen by Proxy syndrome is classified as a rare, often misdiagnosed form of child abuse in which the mother or caregiver intentionally creates or falsifies a related illness in her child to maintain prolonged contact with health workers. The DSM-IV gives Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy the label “factitious disorder by proxy” and the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children labels this disorder “pediatric malingering” (Criddle, 2010). The name Munchausen derives from a German aristocrat of the 1800s named Karl Friedrich Hieronymus Freiherr von Munchhausen, well known for ov...... middle of paper ...... disorder Pietrangelo (2012) Nursing Theory (2013) National Institute of Mental Health (2014). The numbers matter: Mental disorders in America. Retrieved June 12, 2014, from http://www.nimh.nih.org/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtmlNursing Theory (2013). Maternal role achievement theory. Retrieved June 12, 2014, from http://www.nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/mercer-maternal-role-attainment-theory.phpPfuntner, A., Wier, L., & Steiner, C. ( 2013, January). Hospitalization Costs in the United States, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2014, from http://www.hcup-us.ahrg.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb146.pdfPietrangelo, A. (2012, September 6). Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Retrieved June 12, 2014, from http://www.healthline.com/health/munchausen-syndrome-by-proxy#Causes4Pfuntner, Wier, and Steiner (2013) Merriam-Webster (2014)