Münchhausen syndrome: causes, symptoms and treatment

The Baron of Münchhausen, a German baron who served Antonio Ulrico II and later enlisted in the Russian army, lends its name to this disturbing syndrome because the baron, upon returning to his birthplace, told unlikely and made-up stories about his adventures away from home, including riding on a cannonball and going to the Moon.

One of the first cases of Münchhausen syndrome, who has gained some popularity for his appearance on the series House but that is, after all, a totally real phenomenon.

What is Münchhausen Syndrome?

East factitious disorder it consists of a constant and deliberate simulation of diseases, usually very convincing and spectacular. To this end, the patient can self-injure, ingest toxic substances and even self-inject bacteria such as Escherichia coli. The affected person is motivated to assume the role of sick person and feel cared for and cared for.

East metal disorder usually begins in the early stages of adulthood, is more common among men and especially among people who work in an environment services, 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 with this syndrome also often require large doses of pain relievers and narcotics.

Patients with Münchhausen Syndrome often visit different hospitals complaining of the same ailments that they have described in the previous hospital they attended; In addition, their medical knowledge and the precision in the representation of their symptoms mean that doctors have to repeatedly perform different tests and diagnostic methods. They never oppose any test no matter how painful it may be and 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 features and signals

The Münchhausen patient can be described in the following points:

• Constant search for the sick role.
• Self-harm and self-administration of medications to cause symptoms that may have the appearance of credibility.
• Very repeated attendance at hospitals.
• Aggressive behavior when blamed for faking symptoms or when a doctor refuses to do any test (even if it is unnecessary).
• High knowledge of medical concepts.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of the Münchhausen patient 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, where there are physical symptoms without a medical illness which explains them. The main difference between somatization disorder and Münchhausen Syndrome is that in the former there is a real physical symptomatology, although of unknown origin.

On the other hand, the hypochondriac patient exaggerates some symptoms that he thinks he has, while in the Münchhausen, despite continuous complaints, the patient is fully aware that her symptoms are simulated. We must also distinguish it from the classic cases of hysteria, where both the production and the motivation of the symptoms are unconscious.

Diagnostic criteria

Normally, once other diseases have been ruled out, the diagnostic criteria are these:

1. Dramatic clinical picture, which describes spectacular diseases.

2. Desire for tests, interventions, exams… Even if they are told they are unnecessary.

3. Background of many hospitalizations.

4. Evidence of self-medication or self-harm like: cuts, scars, bruises ...

5. Is often considered a bad patient since it does not collaborate in the treatments and puts in judgment the medical decisions.

Treatment of the syndrome

This phase is especially difficult, since the person with Münchhausen Syndrome, once he feels discovered, he tends to get aggressive. After this, he disappears from the clinic and goes to another where he explains his symptoms again.

In the treatment for patients with this syndrome there are two alternatives:

Direct confrontation

One option in which the main problem is that the patient, as we have already said, abandons the hospital to go to another, or accept a psychiatric treatment that will stop following and which To return to.

Indirect confrontation

In this strategy, the patient is treated psychiatrically but without his knowing it. The objective is that, instead of simulating symptoms, patients learn to seek the attention of others in another way. In addition, they must learn to cope better with stressful situations and ignore the thoughts that make them seek the role of sick person and hospitalization, all this with the help of psychologists and psychiatrists.

By last, professionals should contribute to improving the self-esteem of these people, and counteract phobic, insecure and dependent behaviors.