Study of M?nchausen syndrome / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the methods of identifying factitious/fraudulent disorders (M?n-chausen syndrome), enhancing the understanding of their predisposing factors, clinical features, and underlying psychopathology. Method After a final diagnosis of factitious fever was made, data of 4 patients presenting with a puzzling fever of unknown origin were analyzed and compared with those of other cases reported in the English literature. Result It was confirmed that the elevated temperature recorded in the clinical charts of the 4 patients was faked by manipulating of the thermometer. Conclusion These 4 cases show the existence of factitious/fraudulent disorders in China, possibly related to an abnormal psychology, but the tricks employed by the patients are relatively simple compared with those used abroad.