Trastorno facticio en adultos: a propósito de un caso y revisión de literatura / Factitious disorder in adults: a case report and literature review

RESUMEN: El trastorno facticio consiste en falsificar, inducir o agravar las enfermedades para recibir atención médica, independientemente si están enfermas o no. El impacto que tiene esta patología va desde altos costos en salud asociado a la policonsulta, hospitalizaciones y tratamientos innecesarios; la funcionalidad y calidad de vida de estos pacientes, hasta el costo de vidas humanas. Este trastorno sigue siendo un desafío para los clínicos, puesto que no hay evidencia suficiente sobre la epidemiología, etiología, clínica y manejo dada su complejidad. En este artículo se presentará un caso clínico enfatizando en la evolución de la enfermedad, manejo inicial y posterior durante su hospitalización, junto con una actualización basada en la literatura, en torno al tratamiento de esta patología, con el fin de proponer intervenciones preventivas o protocolos que permitan evitar hospitalizaciones y tratamientos innecesarios. Luego se finalizará con la resolución del caso, pronóstico de esta enfermedad y una conclusión.

ABSTRACT Factitious disorder consists of falsifying, inducing or aggravating illnesses in order to receive medical attention, regardless of whether they are ill or not. The impact of this pathology ranges from high health costs associated with polyconsultation, hospitalizations and unnecessary treatments, the functionality and quality of life of these patients, up to the cost of human lives. This disorder continues to be a challenge for clinicians, since there is insufficient evidence on the epidemiology, etiology, clinic and management given its complexity. In this article, a clinical case will be presented, emphasizing the evolution of the disease, initial and subsequent management during hospitalization, together with an update based on the literature, on the treatment of this pathology, in order to propose preventive interventions or protocols that allow avoiding hospitalizations and unnecessary treatments. Then it ends with the resolution of the case, prognosis of this disease and a conclusion.

Factitious Disorder - Patient Pretending To Long Stay At Hospital

Factitious disorder (FD) is a psychiatric disorder where patients intentionally create false physical or psychological symptoms or exaggerate the already existing ones consciously in the absence of clear external motive. Patients feigned for the sole purpose of assuming the patient's role and to stay lifelong at hospital. Here we present a case of 61 years old Saudi patient presenting with so many various complaints and wasting valuable time and resources of doctors and wants potentially long hospital stays, which affects both the patient and the healthcare system.

Chinese mainland′s first case report of Munchausen syndrome by proxy in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Clinical data of a case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology in November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.The 4 years and 4 months old female patient presented with retrosternal and abdominal pain for 1 month, and aggravated with multi-organ pain for 20 days.She complained about the retrosternal pain with acid reflux, pain in the teeth, esophagus, and abdomen, etc.During the hospitalization, she frequently complained of multi-organ pain.Her mother repeatedly declared her painful hip joint and she often cried for pain at night, and even could not walk.However, the clinical examination showed no obvious abnormalities.Combining characteristics of the patient and her caregiver, the patient was confirmed as MSBP.It is suggested that MSBP in children should be concerned in cases with complicated severe chief complaints, frequent medical visits, and a strong willing to see a doctor or be hospitalized by their caregivers, but normal physical and auxiliary examination findings.

Insights into the clinical profile and comorbidities of factitious disorder in a multispeciality setting in southwest Nigeria: A cases series and review

Background: Factitious disorder (FD) is an under-recognized and under-diagnosed mental condition. Healthcare professionals often have challenges to diagnose and treating the disorder. As a result, needless and endless medical resources are recommended to assess and evaluate those affected. FD may present as a physical condition, a psychological disorder, or maybe both depending on the prominent symptoms. However, there is a strong correlation between having FD and psychiatric symptoms. Main Text: FD occurs in early adulthood, with a mean age of onset of 25 years in both genders, although with differing demographic features. The lifetime prevalence of FD imposed on oneself in clinical settings is 1.0%, 0.1% in the overall population (ranging between 0.007% and 8.0%) and occurs more in female health care professionals. FD may make up 0.6%­3.0% of psychiatric referrals, and it accounts for 3-5% of doctor-patient contacts. In actuality, 1-2% of hospital admissions and an average of 6-8% of all psychiatric admissions have been underreported. The study aimed to highlight the signs and symptoms of FD identified in a psychiatry department of a multispecialty center and to increase the awareness of health practitioners. A critical review of the literature was done with an emphasis on psychological symptoms. PubMed, Mendeley, and Google Scholar were thoroughly searched and full-text publications of journals from 2010-2021 were included. Conclusion: FD is a diagnostic puzzle that necessitates adequate, prompt medical attention as well as social support because of the potentially fatal consequence. A stronger patient-therapist relationship can strengthen the patient's conscious self-control to minimize the symptoms; therefore the healthcare provider has to be openminded. For the diagnostic enigma to be removed and for ease of treatment, additional research, increasing awareness among medical professionals and the general public, accurate evaluation, diagnosis, and psychotherapy should be encouraged. These case studies will contribute to the knowledge base of FD and improve the quality of care.

Interconsulta en maltrato infantojuvenil: Característica de la población con sospecha de maltrato infantojuvenil del Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan / Consultation on child abuse: Characteristics of a population with a high level of suspicion of child abuse at Hospital de Pedatría Juan P. Garrahan

El maltrato infantojuvenil constituye un problema de salud pública, presenta consecuencias negativas en el adecuado desarrollo de los niños y adolescentes. Es consecuencia de una multiplicidad de factores individuales, sociales, psicológicos y culturales que puede incluso desembocar en la muerte del niño o adolescente. El objetivo fue realizar una descripción sociodemográfica e identificar posibles variables específicas de maltrato en la población que realizó alguna consulta al hospital y que fue derivada por el médico tratante al Consultorio Multidisciplinario de Protección Infantojuvenil (CMPIJ). Se trató de un estudio descriptivo, prospectivo de corte transversal, realizado entre julio de 2016 y mayo de 2017 en el Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan. El criterio de inclusión fue la población que realizó alguna consulta al hospital, ya sea por sospecha de maltrato o por otros motivos y fue derivada por el médico tratante al CMPIJ. Se evaluaron 96 casos. el 67,7% de las sospechas fueron de abuso sexual infantil (ASI), el 22,9% de maltrato físico y el 9,4% de trastorno facticio aplicado a otro. En los casos de alta sospecha de ASI, el 75% de los pacientes eran de sexo femenino; en el 50% de los casos, el supuesto agresor era conviviente y el 50% de las madres refirió antecedentes de malos tratos en la infancia. En los casos de alta sospecha de maltrato físico, el 53% de los pacientes era de sexo masculino, en el 83,3% de los casos el supuesto agresor era conviviente y el 76,5% de las madres refirió antecedentes de malos tratos en infancia. Se concluye la importancia de contar con datos fidedignos en lo relativo al maltrato Infantojuvenil para permitir elaborar estrategias de prevención tanto a nivel asistencial como de Salud Pública (AU)

Child abuse is a public health problem with a negative impact on the adequate development of children and adolescents. It is a consequence of multiple individual, social, psychological, and cultural factors that may even result in the death of the child or adolescent. The aim of this study was to provide a sociodemographic description and to identify possible specific variables associated with abuse in the population that visited the hospital and was referred to the Multidisciplinary Child Protection Clinic (MDCPC). A prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2016 and May 2017 at Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan. The inclusion criterion was the population that visited the hospital, either for suspicion of abuse or for other reasons, who were referred to the MDCPC by the treating physician. Overall, 96 cases were evaluated; 67.7% of the suspicions were of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), 22.9% for child battering, and 9.4% for Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Among the cases with a high level of suspicion of CSA, 75% were female; in 50% of the cases the supposed aggressor lived in the household, and 50% of the mothers reported a history of child abuse. In the cases of a high level of suspicion of child battering, 53% of the patients were male, in 83.3% of the cases the aggressor was living in the household, and 76.5% of the mothers reported a history child abuse. In conclusion, trustworthy data on child abuse are necessary to develop prevention strategies at both the care and public health levels (AU)

A case report of type 1 diabetes mellitus and factitious hypoglycemia in a patient with Munchausen Syndrome / Hipoglucemia facticia: el caso de un paciente con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 y síndrome de Munchausen

SUMMARY Munchausen syndrome is rarely considered as a first diagnosis, especially in a type 1 diabetic patient presenting with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. The diagnosis should be considered when episodes of hypoglycemia are persistent, and tests suggest a possible exogenous source of insulin. We report a case of a 26-year-old man with multiple hypoglycemic episodes and a long known diagnosis of diabetes type 1 who was referred to our institution after multiple in and out patient consultations in other institutions. He arrived with persistent hypoglycemia, even after withdrawal of insulin therapy on medical record, but persistent self-administration and misuse, without health care professional knowledge, of insulin therapy. He was diagnosed with factitious hypoglycemia after psychiatric evaluation. The patient improved with psychotherapy and family support as well as strict vigilance of insulin administration.

RESUMEN El síndrome de Munchausen rara vez es considerado como primer diagnóstico, especialmente en pacientes diabéticos tipo 1 con cuadro de hipoglicemia hiperinsulinémica. Debe pensarse en este diagnóstico cuando los episodios de hipoglicemia sean persistentes y los exámenes paraclínicos sugieran una fuente exógena de insulina. El siguiente es un reporte de caso de un paciente masculino de 26 años con múltiples episodios de hipoglicemia y diagnóstico conocido de diabetes mellitus tipo 1, quien fue referido a nuestro hospital universitario después de haber consultado en varias ocasiones y haber sido hospitalizado y dado de alta en otras instituciones. Ingresa por múltiples episodios de hipoglicemias, y que incluso al retirar las insulinas por orden médica, persistían los síntomas. Se encontró auto-administración de uso de insulinas sin el conocimiento de los profesionales de la salud, llegando al diagnóstico de hipoglicemia facticia después de valoración por psiquiatría. El paciente presentó mejoría con psicoterapia y apoyo familiar, además de vigilancia estricta de la administración de insulinas.

Munchausen Syndrome in Orthopedics / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Munchausen syndrome is a rare factitious disorder in which a person repeatedly and deliberately acts as if he or she has a physical or mental illness when he or she is not really sick. These patients distort their medical history, undergoing dangerous diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, often resulting in misdiagnosis. Management of this syndrome requires collateral history taking, sound clinical approach, exclusion of organicity, and addressing psychological issues. We report a 54-year-old female, who underwent orthopedic surgery 13 times. She was always unsatisfied with her surgical outcomes, and underwent additional surgical treatment of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and knee joint. She repeatedly complained of joint pain, which was much more exaggerated than expected from her examination results. Therefore, we considered artificial arthrosis for a differential diagnosis of unclear arthrosis, and paid special attention when she exhibited odd behaviors.

Munchausen syndrome and Munchausen syndrome by proxy: a narrative review / Síndrome de Munchausen e síndrome de Munchausen por procuração: uma revisão narrativa

ABSTRACT The Munchausen syndrome and Munchausen syndrome by proxy are factitious disorders characterized by fabrication or induction of signs or symptoms of a disease, as well as alteration of laboratory tests. People with this syndrome pretend that they are sick and tend to seek treatment, without secondary gains, at different care facilities. Both syndromes are well-recognized conditions described in the literature since 1951. They are frequently observed by health teams in clinics, hospital wards and emergency rooms. We performed a narrative, nonsystematic review of the literature, including case reports, case series, and review articles indexed in MEDLINE/PubMed from 1951 to 2015. Each study was reviewed by two psychiatry specialists, who selected, by consensus, the studies to be included in the review. Although Munchausen syndrome was first described more than 60 years ago, most of studies in the literature about it are case reports and literature reviews. Literature lacks more consistent studies about this syndrome epidemiology, therapeutic management and prognosis. Undoubtedly, these conditions generate high costs and unnecessary procedures in health care facilities, and their underdiagnose might be for lack of health professional's knowledge about them, and to the high incidence of countertransference to these patients and to others, who are exposed to high morbidity and mortality, is due to symptoms imposed on self or on others.

RESUMO A síndrome de Munchausen e a síndrome de Munchausen por procuração são condições caracterizadas pela invenção ou pela produção intencional de sinais ou sintomas de doenças, bem como alterações de exames laboratoriais. Indivíduos com esta síndrome fingem que estão doentes e tendem a procurar tratamento, sem ganho secundário, em diferentes serviços de saúde. Ambas as síndromes são condições bem descritas na literatura desde 1951. Elas são frequentemente observadas pelas equipes de saúde em clínicas, enfermarias hospitalares e prontos-socorros. Conduziu-se revisão narrativa, não sistemática da literatura, incluindo relatos de caso, séries de relatos de caso, artigos de revisão indexados no MEDLINE/PubMed de 1951 a 2015. Cada estudo foi revisado por dois especialistas em psiquiatria que, por meio de consenso, escolheram quais estudos seriam incluídos nesta revisão. Apesar da síndrome de Munchausen ter sido descrita pela primeira vez há mais de 60 anos, a maioria dos estudos conduzidos sobre esta condição são relatos de caso e revisões da literatura. A literatura é carente de estudos mais consistentes sobre epidemiologia, manejo terapêutico e prognóstico da síndrome. Sem dúvida, tais condições geram altos custos e procedimentos desnecessários nos serviços de saúde. Seu subdiagnóstico pode se dar pela falta de conhecimento das síndromes por parte dos profissionais de saúde, e à alta incidência de contratransferência aos pacientes e a outros que são expostos à alta morbidade e à mortalidade é justificada pelos sintomas impostos em si mesmo ou em terceiros.

Síndrome de Münchausen por poder en otorrinolaringología / Münchausen syndrome by proxy in otorhinolaryngology

El síndrome de Münchausen por poder es una forma de maltrato infantil, con graves consecuencias para el niño afectado. El diagnóstico de esta afección constituye un desafío para los médicos por su heterogeneidad en los síntomas y signos de presentación. Variadas manifestaciones otorrinolaringológicas están descritas en esta patología. En este artículo se presenta un caso clínico de otitis media crónica con otorragia en un paciente de 2 años, donde se logró establecer el diagnóstico de síndrome de Münchausen por poder a través de la identificación de elementos incongruentes en la historia clínica y finalmente por la detección in fraganti de la agresión por parte de la madre. En esta revisión se concluye que es necesario un alto índice de sospecha para identificar esta patología, la que debe ser una preocupación habitual del equipo de salud para evitar asi consecuencias graves en estos pacientes, tales como secuelas psiquiátricas o incluso la muerte.

Münchausen's syndrome by proxy is a form of child abuse with severe consequences for the affected child. The diagnosis of this condition is a challenge for physicians due to the heterogeneity of the presentation symptoms. A lot of otorhinolaryngological manifestations have been described in this syndrome. We present a case of a 2 year old patient with chronic otitis media and otorrhagia, where we could establish the diagnosis of Münchausen's syndrome by proxy through the identifications of incongruent elements on the clinical history and finally the direct visualization of mother's aggression. In this should be a common concern for health workers to avoid severe consequences in these patients like psychiatric diseases or even death.

Transtorno facticio en obstetricia reporte de caso / Factitious disorder in obstetrics: case report

Introducción: El síndrome de Münchausen es la condición más estudiada del trastorno facticio con síntomas físicos; sin embargo, su presentación clínica durante la gestación es poco frecuente y es escasa la literatura al respecto. Objetivo: Presentar un caso de trastorno facticio en obstetricia. Método: Revisión y análisis de caso clínico. Resultados:Se presenta el caso de una mujer de treinta años de edad con gestación de seis semanas, quien consulta en múltiples ocasiones por un cuadro de emesis y dolor abdominal. Fueron varios los diagnósticos con los que cursó la paciente y se llegaron a excluir patologías como porfiria intermitente aguda, colon narcótico, epilepsia abdominal y espasmo esofágico. La paciente expresó su deseo de interrumpir el embarazo en la semana 21 de gestación. Esta se llevó a cabo una vez su caso fue presentado a junta médica que concluyó que existen condiciones tanto orgánicas como mentales que representan un alto riesgo para la salud de la paciente. Conclusión: Por su alta complejidad, estos trastornos constituyen un reto para el clínico, particularmente en las fases iniciales de su presentación. Los trastornos facticios son rara vez sospechados y diagnosticados, incluso en el ámbito hospitalario; por ende, es de suma importancia educar a los profesionales de la salud en atención primaria y en el medio hospitalario para identificarlos y poder orientar un adecuado manejo y tratamiento…

Introduction: Munchhausen’s syndrome is the best-studied type of factitious disorder with predominantly physical signs and symptoms. However, its clinical presentation during pregnancy is rare and literature on the subject is scarce. Objective: To present a case of factitious disorder during pregnancy. Method: Review and analysis of a clinical case. Results: The case of a 30-year-old woman six weeks pregnant who consults on multiple occasions with emesis and abdominal pain is discussed. Various different diagnoses were considered and pathologiessuch as acute intermittent porphyria, narcotic bowel syndrome, abdominal epilepsy, and esophageal spasm were discarded. The patient expressed her desire to terminate the pregnancy at week 21. The pregnancy was terminated after a medical panel concluded that there were both organic and mental conditions that placed the patient’s health at risk. Conclusions: Factitious disorders are very complex and extremely challenging to the clinician especially during the initial phases. They are seldom suspected and rarely diagnosed even in hospital settings. Therefore it is of utmost importance to educate healthcare professionals in the detection of this disorder to ensure proper management and treatment…

Síndrome de Munchausen por poder. Evaluación, diagnóstico. ¿Después que? / Munchausen by proxy syndrome. Evaluation - diagnosis and then what?

La presente investigación se desarrollo en el Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan. La investigación se centro en analizar un fenómeno complejo tanto en su diagnóstico como en su tratamiento el Síndrome de Munchausen por poder. El Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan, presenta un número elevado de casos con síndrome de munchausen, la cual constituye una forma de maltrato infantil. Aquí se simula o se produce enfermedad en un niño sano, por par te de quien lo cría, que es quien debería protegerlo y ampararlo. El objetivo final de un equipo interdisciplinario frente a este tipo de casos es, hacer un trabajo minucioso con el paciente, familia nuclear, red ampliada y personas significativas, con los recursos profesionales que correspondan, al contexto del paciente, a la red institucional (contra referencia), a fin de que ese niño no vuelva a sufrir ninguna forma de daño intencional. Como obstáculo para el tratamiento y seguimiento de estos niños y sus familias, en la práctica profesional de este Servicio Social, se observa escasa cantidad de equipos profesionales y centros especializados para tal fin, como así también interrogantes acerca de los resultados de las estrategias de intervención de las instituciones a las cuales se derivan estos niños y sus grupos familiares.

The present study was conducted at the Pediatric HospitalJuan P. Garrahan. The study focuses on the phenomenonof Munchausen by proxy syndrome, a complex syndromeboth in its diagnosis and treatment. At the Pediatric HospitalJuan P. Garrahan a high rate of cases of Munchausen by proxy syndrome, a form of child abuse, is found. In this syndrome the parent or caretaker, who is supposed to protectthe child, deliberately makes the child sick or simulates anillness. The main aim of an interdisciplinary team managingthese cases is to closely work with the patient, the close and extended family, and persons important to the child withthe necessary professional resources in an institutional net-work (counter referral) to protect the child from further intentional harm. In the practice of the Social Service of this institution, the main obstacle in the treatment and follow-up of these children and their families is the scarcity of professional teams and centers specialized in the syndrome as well as uncertainty about results of interventional therapies at the centers these children and their families are referred to.

Munchausen's Syndrome Presenting as Dermatitis Artefacta / 대한피부과학회지

Dermatitis artefacta is defined as self-inflicted skin lesions that the patient denies having caused. Munchausen's syndrome (MS) is characterized by pathological lying, the intentional production of physical symptoms, and a restless wandering from hospital to hospital to obtain hospitalization or extensive interventions. MS, presenting as dermatitis artefacta, should be cautiously differentiated from classic dermatitis artefacta by psychoanalytic approaches. In pediatric groups, MS is extremely rare. Thus, a pediatric case of MS should be differentiated from child abuse by caregivers. Herein, we describe an unusual case of MS in a 10-year-old boy, who presented with multifocal facial ulcerations. In addition, a case of MS in a 40 year-old man will be described.

Dermatite factícia desencadeada pela síndrome de Münchausen / Factitial dermatitis as a consequence of Munchausen syndrome

Dermatite factícia refere-se à condição em que as lesões cutâneas são autoinduzidas e resultam de algum distúrbio psiquiátrico. As lesões podem se apresentar de diversas formas e ser produzidas por grande variedade de meios. Apresenta-se um caso raro de paciente com dermatite factícia desencadeada pela síndrome de Münchausen, que se refere a indivíduos que intencionalmente produzem sintomas físicos com o intuito de atender a uma necessidade de receber atendimento médico frequente.

Factitial dermatitis is a condition in which skin lesions are self-inflicted as the result of a psychiatric disorder. The lesions may be presented in various forms and produced by a wide variety of means. This report refers to the case of a patient with factitial dermatitis triggered by Munchausen syndrome, which refers to individuals who intentionally provoke physical symptoms in themselves in order to satisfy a need to receive frequent medical attention.

A Case of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy / 대한소아신경학회지

Munchausen syndrome by proxy(MBP) is the act of one person fabricating or inducing an illness in another to meet his or her own emotional needs through the treatment process. MBP is thought to be rare. We report the case of 11-year-old girl who presented with general weakness, dizziness, headache, and nausea and she was suspected of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

El barón enfermo: síndrome de Münchausen / The sick baron: Münchausen’s syndrome

El Síndrome de Münchausen es una entidad psiquiátrica relativamente rara en la cual el paciente se provoca a sí mismo, o a las personas, a su cargo múltiples sintomatologías de manera deliberada, pudiendo resultar incluso en amputaciones o muerte. Lo hace de una forma consciente pero sin ningún tipo de ganancia primaria presente, sólo por el “placer” de sentirse atendido por el personal asistencial. Es una patología que plantea todo un reto para el clínico, puesto que no posee un cuadro sindrómico típico.

Münchausen’s Syndrome is a psychiatric disease that’s considered as relatively rare; in which the patients causes multiple symptoms and diseases Either to themselves or the people around them, with the possibility of resulting in amputations or even death. The patient engages in this behavior being conscious of what he’s doing, butwith no secondary gain at all, just the “pleasure” of feeling taken care of by the medical personnel. It is a disease that lacks a characteristic clinical course, therefore is of great difficulty to the doctor to diagnose properly an in time.