Munchausen syndrome, also known as a dummy disorder, is a psychological disorder in which the person simulates symptoms or forces the onset of the disease; people with this type of syndrome invent diseases repeatedly and often go from hospital to hospital for treatment.In addition, patients with the syndrome generally also have knowledge of medical practices, being able to manipulate their care to be hospitalized and undergo important tests, treatments and even surgeries.
Diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome is based on observation of a person’s behavior, as well as testing to demonstrate the absence of the disease reported by the person, and it is also important to identify the cause of the disorder, as such treatment may be initiated more effectively.
- One of the most characteristic signs of Munchausen syndrome is the repeated visit to the hospital with reports of signs and symptoms of diseases that end up not being checked by medical examinations.
- Both physical.
- Imaging and laboratory.
- Other signs that may be taken into account in the identification of Munchausen syndrome include:.
Because the goal of people with the syndrome is to convince the medical team to perform tests and procedures to treat the disease, they end up studying the disease in depth, as they can better reproduce the symptoms of the disease and discuss the situation with the doctor, more likely to undergo medical procedures.
Power Munchausen syndrome, also known as substitute Munchausen syndrome, occurs when the person simulates or creates symptoms of the disease in another person, often in children with those with frequent contact.As a result, these children are often taken to the hospital or treated as the person with the syndrome considers effective.
It is important that these children be evaluated by the doctor to see if or not they have a disease and, if not, the recommendation is that the child be separated from the person with the syndrome, as this type of behavior is considered child abuse.
Treatment for Munchausen syndrome varies by diagnosis, as the syndrome can be triggered by other psychological disorders, such as anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders and depression, so, depending on the cause, it is possible to initiate the most appropriate treatment, with the possibility of both psychotherapy and medication.