Munchausen’s Syndrome has had its fair share of publicity in recent years after being featured in soaps as well as being the subject of some acclaimed TV shows and movies.
Hollyoaks viewers will have seen Maxine Minniver (Nikki Sanderson) suffering the condition, and its impact on her behaviour, while true-crime series The Act – which told the story of Gypsy Rose and DeeDee Blanchard – had Munchausen’s by Proxy, a form of the condition – at its core.
But many still know little about Munchausen Syndrome and its symptoms – just what is the condition and how do sufferers behave?
Here’s what you need to know…
What is Munchausen’s Syndrome?
The NHS website explains that Munchausen’s Syndrome is a psychological disorder in which a person pretends to be ill or fakes symptoms of an illness in order to gain attention.
The main intention is to spark concern in others and get attention, rather than for any practical benefit such as claiming incapacity allowance.
There is another form of the condition known as Munchausen’s by proxy, in which the sufferer claims somebody else – such as a child of theirs, for example – is ill to gain attention and sympathy.
Munchausen’s gets its name from a German aristocrat, Baron von Munchausen, who was known for telling far-fetched tales about his behaviour.
The cause can be complex and many patients refuse psychiatric treatment, but it’s been suggested it may be caused by childhood trauma, such as parental neglect and abandonment.
There is also some evidence that people who had extensive medical procedures or received prolonged medical attention in childhood may go on to develop the condition when they are older, as they associate childhood memories with a sense of being cared for.
What are the symptoms of Munchausen’s Syndrome?
According to the NHS there are four main ways people with Munchausen’s Syndrome fake or induce illnesses. These include:
Lying about symptoms – for example, choosing symptoms difficult to disprove, such as having a severe headache or pretending to have a seizure (fit) to pass out.
Tampering with test results – for example, heating a thermometer to suggest a fever or adding blood to a urine sample.
Self-infliction – for example, cutting or burning themselves, poisoning themselves with drugs, or eating food which is contaminated with bacteria.
Aggravating pre-existing conditions – for example, rubbing faeces into wounds to cause an infection, or reopening previously healed wounds.
Clues that a person may have Munchausen’s Syndrome include making frequent visits to hospitals in different areas, having symptoms that do not match test results, having symptoms which get worse for no apparent reason, and showing very good medical knowledge.
They may also claim to have a history of complex and serious medical conditions without any supporting evidence – sufferers may sometimes claim they’ve spent a long time out of the country.
Some people with the condition may spend years travelling from one hospital to another faking a wide range of illnesses – moving on when they are found to be lying – while in extreme cases some are even willing to undergo painful and life-threatening surgery even though they know it’s not necessary.
How is Munchausen’s Syndrome treated?
Munchausen’s can be difficult to diagnose as many people with it refuse to admit they have a problem – while it is a genuine mental illness, many will only admit to having a physical illness.
If a person admits what they have done, they can be referred to a psychiatrist for treatment, but if they don’t admit they have been lying, experts suggest the doctor in charge of them should minimise medical contact with them.
Those who do admit to having a problem can be treated with a combination of psychoanalysis and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to try and control the symptoms.
Family therapy can also help in the case of people who are still close to their family.
For more information visit the NHS website.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/12/what-is-munchausens-syndrome-and-what-are-the-symptoms-12226535/
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