Modeling stress-induced social and anxiety-like behaviors in mice: Towards a preclinical framework for Munchausen-like traits.

Munchausen syndrome is a psychiatric condition in which individuals feign or induce illness to gain attention, care, and sympathy. Despite being clinically recognized, its biological underpinnings remain largely unexplored, highlighting the need for suitable animal models. Male mice were subjected to social isolation and restraint stress (2 h daily for 7 days) to induce chronic stress. Behavioral changes were assessed using a social interaction test with freely moving or confined juvenile and adult male conspecifics. Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by the open field test and elevated plus maze. Concentration of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the brain was quantified by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Stressed mice exhibited increased social interaction with freely moving unfamiliar conspecifics but reduced interaction with confined ones. These animals displayed heightened anxiety-like behaviors and elevated levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the brain. Currently, no preclinical models exist for screening factitious disorder. This study represents the first attempt to develop an animal model to identify Munchausen syndrome-like behaviors. Stress and anxiety significantly modulate social behavior in mice. Notably, enhanced interaction with freely moving conspecifics may mimic attention-seeking behavior, providing a potential model for investigating Munchausen syndrome-like traits. This model may offer insights into the neurobiological basis and aid in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.