Münchhausen Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Baron Münchhausen, a German baron who served Anthony Ulrich II and later enlisted in the Russian army, lends its name to this disturbing syndrome because the baron, upon returning to his birthplace, told implausible and invented stories about his adventures away from home, among which were riding on horseback. a cannonball and go to the Moon.
One of the first cases of Munchausen syndromewhich has gained some popularity for its appearance in the series House but is, at the end of the day, a totally real phenomenon.
This factitious disorder consists of a constant and intentional simulation of illnesses, usually very convincing and spectacular. To this end, the patient can self-harm, ingest toxic substances and even self-inject bacteria such as Escherichia coli. The affected person is motivated to assume the role of being sick and feel cared for and cared for..
This mental disorder usually begins in the early stages of adulthood, is more common among men and especially among people who work in a medical service environment, many of whom have knowledge and an ability to access materials that facilitate the reproduction of the syndrome.
Symptoms of Münchhausen Syndrome
Symptoms are limited by the patient’s knowledge or fantasy. Although these are very varied, the most common are allergic reactions, respiratory problems, seizures, diarrhea, fever, fainting, vomiting, and even hydroelectric disorders. In addition, people who have this syndrome also usually require large doses of pain relievers and narcotics.
Patients with Münchhausen Syndrome usually visit different hospitals complaining of the same ailments that they described in the previous hospital they went to; Furthermore, their medical knowledge and the precision in the representation of their symptoms mean that doctors have to repeatedly perform different tests and diagnostic methods on them. They never oppose any test, no matter how painful it may be and They have special submission at the time of hospitalization in a health center.
This disorder can be of different intensity depending on the person affected. For example, in Cuba, serious cases have been described in which the patient has been inoculated with the HIV virus.
Basic characteristics and signs
Münchhausen’s patient can be described in the following points:
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of the Münchhausen patient It is based on the elimination of other psychiatric syndromes once it has been detected that the patient has a disorder of this nature..
On the one hand, medical specialists must rule out other pathologies with very similar characteristics, such as somatization disorder, where physical symptoms exist without a medical illness that explains them. The main difference between somatization disorder and Münchhausen Syndrome is that in the former there is real physical symptomatology, although of unknown origin.
On the other hand, the hypochondriac patient exaggerates symptoms that he believes he has, while in Münchhausen Syndrome, despite continuous complaints, the patient is fully aware that his symptoms are simulated. We must also distinguish it from classic cases of hysteria, where both the production and motivation of the symptoms are unconscious.
2. Desire to undergo tests, interventions, examinations…even if they are told they are unnecessary.
3. Background of many hospitalizations.
4. Evidence of self-medication or self-harm such as: cuts, scars, bruises…
5. He is usually considered a bad patient since he does not collaborate in treatments and puts medical decisions on trial.
Syndrome treatment
This phase is especially difficult, since the person who has Münchhausen Syndrome, once he feels discovered, he tends to get aggressive. After this, she disappears from the clinic and goes to another one where he again explains her symptoms.
In the treatment for patients with this syndrome there are two alternatives:
direct confrontation
An option in which the main problem is that the patient, as we have already said, leaves the hospital to go to another, or accepts a psychiatric treatment that he will stop following and to which he will not return.
Indirect confrontation
In this strategy the patient is treated psychiatrically but without his knowledge. The goal is that, instead of simulating symptoms, patients learn to seek the attention of others in another way. In addition, they must learn to better deal with stressful situations and ignore the thoughts that make them seek the sick role and hospitalization, all with the help of psychologists and psychiatrists.
Finally, Professionals must contribute to improving the self-esteem of these people.and counteract phobic, insecure and dependent behaviors.
