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.
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
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.
