Which of the following best describes Münchhausen syndrome?

Münchhausen syndrome is characterized by the intentional production or feigning of symptoms with the primary motive of assuming the patient role. Individuals with this condition deliberately create or exaggerate symptoms in order to gain attention, sympathy, or treatment from healthcare providers. This behavior is not motivated by external incentives, such as financial gain or other tangible outcomes, but rather by a deep psychological need to be seen as ill or to be the focus of medical attention.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of Münchhausen syndrome. For example, the fabrication of symptoms in another individual pertains to Münchhausen by proxy, which involves a caregiver inducing illness in someone else, typically a child. Exaggeration of existing medical conditions might occur in many settings, but it does not encompass the deliberate falsification aspect of Münchhausen syndrome. Lastly, producing symptoms for psychological gain suggests a broader range of motivations that include secondary gain, which does not align with the primary focus on the sick role seen in individuals with Münchhausen syndrome.