What is Munchausen's syndrome in psychiatry. Symptoms of Munchausen syndrome in adults and children. Methods of treating Munchausen syndrome

We all love care and attention from the people close to us. Sometimes the need for care develops into a mentally intrusive state. Some may develop Munchausen syndrome. In a nutshell, this is a simulative disorder in which the patient invents and artificially causes signs of the disease in order to obtain medical, often invasive, intervention. You will learn more about Munchausen's syndrome from our article.

Munchhausen syndrome: What is it

Munchausen syndrome is considered a mental deviation, which can occur in both adults and in school and preschool children. At the same time, the patient simulates the symptoms of serious diseases, exaggerates his poor physical condition at the global level, in order to receive a medical examination, achieve hospitalization, treatment and, even, force doctors for surgical intervention.

Even if doctors deny the reliability of symptoms and the presence of a disease, the patient continues to insist on medical care and in every possible way deny the artificiality of his symptom. Usually, people with Munchausen have an extensive clinical picture and long -term hospitalization.

Subject to non -receipt of proper attention, patients often show aggression, become restless, absurd and can show both speech aggression and apply physical harm. In case of refusal in one medical institution, people with Munchausen syndrome visit other clinics and centers where they try to convince medical personnel of the reliability of symptoms and insist on treatment.

The causes of Munchausen syndrome are thoroughly unknown. Psychiatrists studying this mental deviation are inclined to the fact that people who simulate the disease are in this way to attract attention, to achieve care, sympathy and the participation of loved ones. In addition, they often lack psychological support from society.

It is important to know that people with Munchausen syndrome are not looking for material or monetary benefits, but exclusively achieve psychological discharge and comprehensive care.

Munchausen syndrome: How the name appeared

Almost all of us know the German baron Karl Munchausen. He became famous for telling absolutely incredible invented stories that he gave out for truthful facts. Among friends, the German Baron received the nickname “Baron-Barn”, and the terrace, on which Munchausen usually told his stories was called only as a pavilion of lies. Despite the harmless enemies of the baron, the lie of people suffering from Munchausen syndrome can be life threatening, and their behavior poses a threat to society.

This condition was first described in the 50s of the past century. Then the deviation was noticed by the English scientist Richard Asher. The researcher described Munchausen syndrome as an irresistible passion for the treatment and simulation of imaginary diseases.

To date, Munchausen syndrome has been carefully studied and, at least, you can accurately determine the history of this deviation. According to psychiatrists, Munchausen syndrome has been formed from early childhood. Usually, future Munchausen suffers from a shortage of attention at an early age, do not feel protected and enjoyed. In addition, it is not rare that people suffering from this deviation grow in incomplete families, where the main task of the mother or father of loner is not to educate and cherish the child, but to provide him in material terms. Thus, the child transfers his disabilities and deficiency of attention to adulthood, simulating diseases and, thereby, causing care and affection from loved ones and medical staff.

It also happens that mothers with Munchausen syndrome project their deviation to children, artificially causing them the symptoms of serious diseases and, thereby, exposing their danger. Most often, such mothers also suffer from attention deficiency and causing diseases in a child try to attract attention. In case of exposure, the mother with Munchausen syndrome denies the artificiality of symptoms that have appeared in the child, aggressively behaves in relation to medical workers and changes the place of treatment.

That is why it is very important to recognize Munchausen syndrome in time and systematically carry out psychological adjustment of behavior, through treatment in rehabilitation centers or visiting a psychologist.

Munchausen syndrome: Symptoms in adults

The attitude of psychiatry to Munchausen syndrome is quite double. On the one hand, the patient without a doubt has mental abnormalities, on the other hand, he clearly and clearly understands the seriousness and consequences of his actions, very carefully plans his actions and provokes the disease according to the plan prepared earlier. The symptoms of patients with Munchausen syndrome depends on the disease that it simulates. Since Munchausen is trying to make their disease as believable as possible and, in most cases, pretend to be fatal, there is a trick of chemicals that provoke serious symptoms. Most often, people with Munchausen syndrome cause:

• diarrhea;
• frequent vomiting;
• bleeding;
• blood impurities in feces;
• convulsions;
• convulsions.

Munchausen syndrome also suggests that the patient thoroughly studies the symptoms of far -fetched illness or disease and tries to artificially provoke them. At the same time, people will certainly lie to their loved ones and medical personnel.   Also, in addition to studying symptoms, Munchhausenes are also examined by the essence of the diagnosis, which involves checking a far -fetched disease. There are cases when patients with Munchausen's syndrome intended to pump out blood to provoke anemia. Often, such patients still manage to convince the doctor of the credibility of their illness and the deterioration of the condition, which leads to a long serious drug treatment and, subsequently, to surgical intervention.

Delegated Munchausen syndrome

The delegated Munchausen syndrome can be defined only as an attempt on the life of your own child. As mentioned above, it is a pathology in which parents or guardians deliberately cause painful conditions for their own children.

The main goal pursued in the delegated Munchausen syndrome is to draw attention to his person, to get sympathy and compassion. At the same time, the parent insists that the child certainly has a deadly disease. The case is known when the mother for 4 years treated her child from imaginary cystic fiber, artificially infecting her daughter with pathogenic bacteria, which she had access through work in the laboratory.

Munchausen syndrome: treatment

Treatment of people with Munchausen syndrome should be carried out regularly in psychological centers, because such a person can harm not only to himself, but also to others. Unfortunately, rehabilitation is rarely successful and brings positive results. If you get into the clinic, patients only feel satisfied for the first time, because they are still treated. Then, the methods of treatment are disappointed with Munchausen, it becomes aggressive and closes, not allowing to fully perform psychiatric intervention.

Experienced psychiatrists have developed a special approach to patients with Munchausen syndrome. Patients are unobtrusively, non -aggressively contrasting their diagnosis. At the same time, it is very important that the patient does not have a feeling of guilt and the desire for self -flagellation does not appear, otherwise he will again go to the sacrifice stage. Psychiatrists try to solve this problem together with patients so that the patient himself comes to the conclusion about improper behavior.

Psychologist about Munchausen syndrome: Video