Some people with Münchhausen syndrome (factitious disorder) provoke symptoms of illness, in part through self-harming behavior. They feign these symptoms or make them seem worse than they actually are.
By doing so, they hope to be admitted to a hospital and receive medical treatment or surgery.
The goal is to attract attention and sympathy from their social circle and from medical professionals. They want to be treated.
This mental disorder is named after the “Baron of Lies,” Münchhausen, who is known for his brazen, fabricated stories.
Below you will find further information as well as a selection of specialists in Münchhausen syndrome.
Characteristics and Symptoms of Munchausen Syndrome
On the one hand, recognizing this mental disorder is difficult because those affected do not feel impaired. They switch doctors or hospitals as soon as experts suspect a mental disorder.
Furthermore, they put themselves in danger by resorting to self-harming behaviors to induce certain symptoms.
These include poisoning or chemical burns.
There is a real risk that these patients will undergo unnecessary surgery and suffer health complications as a result.
Munchausen syndrome is a severe behavioral disorder in which those affected feign or deliberately induce symptoms of illness @ Yakobchuk Olena /AdobeStock
Fabricated disorders can occur in any medical specialty and present with a wide range of symptoms.
The following symptoms frequently occur in Munchausen syndrome:
- Unexplained fever
- Unexplained anemia
- Unexplained hyperglycemic conditions
- Recurrent wound healing disorders and abscesses
- Recurrent unexplained urinary tract infections, and many more
An artificial disorder should be considered in the presence of the following symptoms:
- Various invasive procedures
- Unexplained recurrent symptoms
- Repeated wound healing disorders and
- Abscesses
The third-party medical history is also important, as family members are often involved in denying the self-harm.
Classification of factitious disorder
According to the ICD-10, factitious disorder is classified among personality and behavioral disorders. It is classified under F 68.1.
It is often comorbid with the following disorders:
Severe somatization disorders may also occur.
Munchausen syndrome is a rare condition @ Halfpoint /AdobeStock
Treatment of Munchausen syndrome
A particular problem with Munchausen syndrome is the pathological doctor-patient interaction.
For a long time, the doctor and patient jointly deny the self-harm, leading to a complex conflict.
A difficult dynamic arises due to:
- Internalized professional ethical standards
- Unconscious manipulation by the patient and
- Unconsciously motivated professional conduct
Medical treatment that has been administered can also have repercussions for doctors. This is because they become “accomplices” in acts of self-harm and may risk a lawsuit under certain circumstances.
In severe cases, only psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral therapies—particularly in an inpatient setting—are appropriate.
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