Factious Syndrome or Munchausen Syndrome

 

P. Jabalin Mahiba

Assistant Professor, P.S. College of Nursing, Thalakulam, Kanyakumari, District, Tamilnadu, India.

 

ABSTRACT:

People with factious syndrome deliberately produce a exaggerate symptoms in several ways. They may lie about or false symptoms, hurt themselves to bring on symptoms. The exact cause is not known.  Many biological and psychological factors are related with this disorder. Diagnosing factious disorder is very difficult but doctors   must rule out any possible physical or mental illness before a diagnosis of factious syndrome can be considered. There are no standard therapies for factious syndrome and treatment include psychotherapy, family therapy and meditation.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Factious disorder is mental disorder in which a person acts as if he or she has physical or mental illness when in fact, he or she has consciously created the symptoms. These people are willing to undergo painful or risky tests to get sympathy and special attention. Factious disorder is not the same as inventing medical problems for practical benefit such as getting out of work or winning a lawsuit. Although people with factious disorder know they are causing their symptoms or illnesses, they may not understand the reason for their behaviors or recognize themselves as having a problem. Factious  disorder is challenging to identify and hand to treat. However medical and psychiatric help are critical for preventing serious injury and even death caused by this self ham typical or this disorder.

 

DEFINITION:

Factious disorder (Munchausen syndrome) is a psychological disorder in which someone intentionally produces or feigns symptoms of a disease or injury to convince others that medical treatment is needed.

 

TYPES:

1)   Factious disorder imposed on self

2)   Factious disorder imposed on another person

 

1) Factious disorder imposed on self:

This types of factious disorder will false physical or psychological problem in themselves or they might self induce an injury or disease.

 

2) Factious disorder imposed on another person:

This type of factious disorder will false physical or psychological problems in another person, usually someone who is vulnerable and under their care. (Such as child or older relative). They might cause symptoms to appear in the individual and can cause great physical or emotional harm.

 

CAUSES:

·      History of abuse or neglect

·      History of frequent illness

·      History of trauma

·      Family dysfunction

·      Social isolation

·      Personality disorder

·      Depression

·      Loss of loved one through death

·      Work in the health care field

·      Poor sense of identity or self esteem

 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

·      Bizarre symptoms

·      Dramatic symptoms such as hemoptysis, acute chest pain suggesting M.I, or coma from self induced hypoglycemia.

·      Willingness or eagerness to have medical tests, operations or other procedures

·      History of seeking treatment at numerous hospitals, clinics

·      Problem with identity and self esteem

·      Extensive knowledge of medical terms and diseases

·      Vague or inconsistent symptoms

·      Seeking treatment from many different doctors or hospitals

·      Pseudo logia fantastica

·      Arguing with doctors and staff

·      Frequent stay in the hospital.

 

DIAGNOSIS:

Diagnosis is based on objectively identifying symptoms that are made up rather than the persons intent or motivation for doing so. A doctor may suspect factious disorder when:

·      The persons medical history doesn’t make sense

·      No believable reason exists for an illness or injury

·      The illness does not follow the usual cause

·      There is a lack of healing for no apartment reason, despite appropriate treatment.

·      There are contradictory or inconsistent symptoms or lab test result.

·      The person resist getting information from previous medical records, other health care professional or family members.

·      The person is caught in the act of lying or causing an injury.

 

To help determine of someone has factious disorders, doctors:

·      Conduct a detailed interview

·      Require past medical records

·      Work with family members for more information

·      Run only tests required to address possible physical symptoms.

TREATMENT:

Treatment of factious disorder is often difficult and there are no standard therapies.

 

Treatment generally include:

·       Family therapy

·       Psychotherapy

·       Cognitive behavior therapy

·       Meditation

·       Hospitalization

 

PREVENTION:

Early recognition and treatment of factious disorder may help avoid unnecessary and potentially dangerous tests and treatment. Exact cause of factious disorder is unknown there is no known way to prevent it.

 

COMPLICATION:

·      Injury or death from self inflicted medical condition.

·      Severe health problems from infections

·      Loss of organ or limbs from unnecessary surgery.

·      Alcohol or other substance abuse.

·      Significant problem in daily life.

 

CONCLUSION:

Factious syndrome is considered a mental illness, because it is associated with emotional difficulties and stressful situation.  A person acts as if he or she has physical or mental illness when in fact, he or she consciously created the symptoms. They have inner need to seen as ill or injured. Exact cause is not known so there is no known way to prevent it.

 

REFERENCES:

1.      Allan Tasman, Jerald Kay, J effrey A. Liberman (2009}. Psychiatry (2nd ed). John Wileys &/sons Ltd, 

2.      James l. Lasenson M.D (2005). Psychosomatic medicine (1st ed). The American Psychiatric publishing, Wahingtone D.C

3.      Robert E. Hales, Stuart G. Yudifsky (2003). Text book of clinical Psychiatry (1st ed). The American Psychiatric publishing, Wahingtone D.C

4.      https://my.clevelandclinic.org>health.

5.      https://www.mayoclinic.org.

6.      https://www.psycom.net>factious.

 

 

 

 

 

Received on 29.03.2018         Modified on 11.04.2018

Accepted on 01.05.2018       ©A&V Publications All right reserved