Munchausen Syndrome cases are quite complicated. They have a variety of manifestations and causes. The exact cause may never be known, but certain life conditions made it more likely. Treatment for the condition can be quite complicated and ineffective for a number of reasons.
With this disorder, the sufferer may fake illness or may actually make themselves sick by different methods. They may undergo unnecessary surgeries. Sometimes the illness is inflicted on another, such as a child or other person under their care. There is even a manifestation in which the sufferer befriends a person online who has a serious illness and pretends to suffer from the same thing.
It may never be known why this attention-seeking illness develops, but there are some indicators. Childhood sexual, physical, or emotional abuse is one such indicator. So, too, is the experience of either an early experience of their own serious illness or that of a family member. Experiencing a death early in their life is also a risk factor. Certain mental illnesses may later develop into the condition.
Many times the person with this condition will be have been in a health related field, or at least had that desire. They may even attempt to "rescue" a person after first making them sick. They even sometimes receive an award for being a hero, when in fact they caused the condition from which they appeared to save the person.
There are indicators that a person is not really physically ill. One of these is a classic textbook list of symptoms that are resistant to attempted treatments. These people may even go so far as to undergo painfully intrusive tests and other procedures. If the medical history is either missing or insufficient, this may be another indication that the person suffers from the condition. Often, there is resistance to letting medical personnel speak with family members or others who know the medical history.
Not only does this condition cost thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands, in medical costs for unnecessary tests and treatments, it also can be quite dangerous. The person may really become sick, and possibly even die from complications of medicines, surgeries, and treatments that are not needed. It also burdens health care professionals who could spend their time on those who are really ill. In addition, the families of these persons suffer untold worry and often expense in caring for these people.
The treatment can be as complicated as are the manifestations. The fact that the condition is chronic and sufferers avoid a cure makes treatment difficult. Confrontation does not help. There needs to be a fine line between offering sympathetic attention and empathy to underlying situations that may have contributed to the condition. There should be a psychiatric approach to treatment.
The prognosis for those suffering from Munchausen Syndrome cases is not very optimistic. There is a high incidence of suicide associated with this illness, estimated to be as high as 70% of sufferers. Males are more likely to suffer the worst outcome. Since there is often discord with the medical profession, there is a high incidence of changing doctors and hospitals and repeating the same symptoms.
With this disorder, the sufferer may fake illness or may actually make themselves sick by different methods. They may undergo unnecessary surgeries. Sometimes the illness is inflicted on another, such as a child or other person under their care. There is even a manifestation in which the sufferer befriends a person online who has a serious illness and pretends to suffer from the same thing.
It may never be known why this attention-seeking illness develops, but there are some indicators. Childhood sexual, physical, or emotional abuse is one such indicator. So, too, is the experience of either an early experience of their own serious illness or that of a family member. Experiencing a death early in their life is also a risk factor. Certain mental illnesses may later develop into the condition.
Many times the person with this condition will be have been in a health related field, or at least had that desire. They may even attempt to "rescue" a person after first making them sick. They even sometimes receive an award for being a hero, when in fact they caused the condition from which they appeared to save the person.
There are indicators that a person is not really physically ill. One of these is a classic textbook list of symptoms that are resistant to attempted treatments. These people may even go so far as to undergo painfully intrusive tests and other procedures. If the medical history is either missing or insufficient, this may be another indication that the person suffers from the condition. Often, there is resistance to letting medical personnel speak with family members or others who know the medical history.
Not only does this condition cost thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands, in medical costs for unnecessary tests and treatments, it also can be quite dangerous. The person may really become sick, and possibly even die from complications of medicines, surgeries, and treatments that are not needed. It also burdens health care professionals who could spend their time on those who are really ill. In addition, the families of these persons suffer untold worry and often expense in caring for these people.
The treatment can be as complicated as are the manifestations. The fact that the condition is chronic and sufferers avoid a cure makes treatment difficult. Confrontation does not help. There needs to be a fine line between offering sympathetic attention and empathy to underlying situations that may have contributed to the condition. There should be a psychiatric approach to treatment.
The prognosis for those suffering from Munchausen Syndrome cases is not very optimistic. There is a high incidence of suicide associated with this illness, estimated to be as high as 70% of sufferers. Males are more likely to suffer the worst outcome. Since there is often discord with the medical profession, there is a high incidence of changing doctors and hospitals and repeating the same symptoms.
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