Clinical characteristics of the Munchausen syndrome. A review and 3 new case histories

Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
P Fink, J Jensen

Abstract

The term Munchausen syndrome was introduced by Asher in 1951 for the description of patients who tell fantastic stories and deliberately seek repeated hospitalizations at different hospitals for simulated or self-induced acute illnesses. The syndrome has been repeatedly criticized and several other eponyms have been suggested. In DSM-III-R the designation chronic factitious disorder is used synonymously with Munchausen syndrome. On the basis of 3 new case reports and a statistic processing of literature case histories, this paper suggests that when using the original criteria by Asher, the syndrome constitutes a subtype of chronic factitious disorders, specially characterized by factitious illness, peregrination, pseudologia fantastica and dramatic admission circumstances. Further, most of the criticism of the syndrome may be a result of the great variability in definitions and diagnostic criteria used by different authors. Other clinical characteristics of the patients as well as psychopathologic and psychodynamic considerations are briefly discussed.

Citations

Dec 1, 1994·Journal of Internal Medicine·U LudwigsG Matell
Feb 28, 2001·Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine·P TyrerM Ranger
Sep 1, 1995·The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry·S P Conway, M N Pond
Feb 1, 1992·Psychological Medicine·P Fink
Dec 17, 2016·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Victor S MannarinoMauro V Mendlowicz
Nov 9, 2011·Clinical Nuclear Medicine·Thorsten DerlinChristian R Habermann
Jul 1, 1997·General Hospital Psychiatry·A Diefenbacher, G Heim
Jan 1, 1993·International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine·S Taylor, S E Hyler
Jan 1, 1997·Clinics in Dermatology·C S Koblenzer

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Suicide & Life-threatening Behavior
R A Faguet
La Clinica terapeutica
S Gheis, R Mayer
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
B H King, C V Ford
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved