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Updated: May 18, 2026
A Multiple Integrated Social Stress Model for Psychiatric Disorders in Female C57BL/6J Mice
Published on: July 15, 2025
Modeling stress-induced social and anxiety-like behaviors in mice: Towards a preclinical framework for
Sanjay N Awathale1, Gajendra N Pardeshi1, Purvaj G Barote1
1Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM NMIMS Global University, Dhule 424001, Maharashtra, India.
Abstract:
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.
Insights
Researchers developed a novel animal model for Munchausen syndrome by inducing chronic stress in mice. Stressed mice showed altered social behavior and increased anxiety, potentially mimicking attention-seeking traits for future research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Animal Models
Background:
- Munchausen syndrome, a psychiatric disorder involving feigned illness for attention, lacks biological understanding and preclinical models.
- Investigating the neurobiological basis of factitious disorder requires suitable animal models to explore underlying mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel animal model for identifying Munchausen syndrome-like behaviors.
- To explore the impact of chronic stress and anxiety on social behavior in mice.
Main Methods:
- Male mice were subjected to chronic social isolation and restraint stress.
- Behavioral assessments included social interaction tests, open field test, and elevated plus maze.
- Brain concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured using ELISA.
Main Results:
- Stressed mice exhibited altered social interactions, with increased engagement with freely moving conspecifics and decreased interaction with confined ones.
- Anxiety-like behaviors were significantly heightened in stressed mice.
- Elevated levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were observed in the brains of stressed mice.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first preclinical model for investigating Munchausen syndrome-like behaviors, induced by chronic stress.
- Altered social behavior, particularly increased interaction with unfamiliar mice, may represent an attention-seeking phenotype.
- This model offers a platform for studying the neurobiology of factitious disorder and developing therapeutic strategies.
