Sometimes topics just jump into my head, like this one. ;]
Dealing with uncontrolled psych problems can really toss a monkey wrench into things both today and in an emergency situation.
In persons who are affected with Münchausen syndrome exaggerates or creates symptoms of illnesses in themselves to gain attention, sympathy, and/or comfort from medical staff. In some extreme cases, people afflicted with Münchausen’s syndrome are knowledgeable about the medical practices & are skilled at producing symptoms that end in long & expensive medical analysis, long-drawn-out hospital stays and needless operations. The character of “patient” is a familiar one, and it fulfills a emotional need in people with this syndrome. This disorder is different from hypochondria and other somatoform disorders in that those do not deliberately produce their dysfunctional bodily symptoms.
Some of the risk factors for developing Münchausen syndrome include childhood traumas, growing up with parents/caretakers who were emotionally unavailable, a history of serious childhood illness, failed aspirations to work in the medical field, personality disorders, and a low self-esteem.
An analogous behavior called Münchausen by proxy has been documented in a parent or guardian of children. The adult ensures that their child will endure some type of medical affliction, therefore compel the child to suffer hospitalizations for a large part of their youth. Additionally, a disease may actually be initiated in the child. Münchausen by proxy is discrete from Münchausen syndrome. There is growing agreement in the pediatric community that Munchausen by proxy should be renamed and considered as “medical abuse” to highlight the real harm caused by the sham & to lessen the likelihood of them using a psychiatric defense when real harm is done.
How did the name come about?
The syndrome’s name comes from a German nobleman working in the Russian army, Baron Karl Friedrich Hieronymus Freiherr von Munchhausen, 1720–1797) who allegedly told many incredible stories about himself. Rudolf Raspe published the stories as The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchhausen.
Multiple scars on their belly due to repeated “emergency” operations is a tip off for Münchhausen’s. Similar such when applied to someone’s child or ward could indicate Münchhausen’s by proxy.
Numerous symptoms when taken together point to Münchausen’s syndrome or Münchausen’s by proxy. Some of them are frequent hospitalizations, knowledge of several illnesses, frequently requesting medications, being open to extensive surgeries, few to no visitors when hospitalized, embellished or fictitious stories about numerous medical problems, and more.
Münchausen syndrome is not the same as hypochondria as people with Münchausen syndrome know that they are not really physically sick, they fabricate the symptoms of an illness. This is not the same as pretending [malingering] to be sick for personal benefit such as being excused from school or work.
People who suspect that they may have this or any other medical issues [or their family] should seek proper consultation with their healthcare provider as this is only intended to spark discussion. ;]