Munchausen's Syndrome

Supervised by Dr. Gadah Shahroor

Prepared by (Group # 8)
Namah M. Aloudat Hana’ Yosuf

Sahar Shawabkeh Gufran Aleisa

Fajer Shkour Eizaldeen Barhoom

Mohammad Alotaili Ahmad Aleqdah

Rashedh Algaryouti

1
 Presentation Outline
Introduction:
• Overview of Munchausen's Syndrome Patient
• Causes and risk factors Munchausen's Syndrome
• Symptoms of Munchausen's Syndrome
• Diagnosis of Syndrome
• Treatment
• Munchausen syndrome vs. Munchausen's Syndrome
proxy.
• Review Quiz
2
 What Is Munchausen Syndrome?

 Also known as factitious disorder imposed on self

is mental disorder in which a person pretends to be ill
or deliberately produces fake symptoms of illness in
themselves to get attention.
 Munchausen syndrome is considered a mental illness
because it is associated with severe emotional
difficulties.
 They lie about symptoms, sabotage medical tests or
harm themselves to get the symptoms. Diagnosing and
treating Munchausen syndrome is difficult because of
the person’s dishonesty.
3
 Ways of self harming
• Pts with this syndrome may cause self harming by:
o lying about symptoms: ex. such as having a
severe headache
o Tampering with test results: ex. adding blood to urine
o Self-infliction: ex. cut or burn themselves, or poison
themselves, or eating food contaminated with bacteria
o Aggravating conditions: ex. reopen wounds, rub feces
into a wound to cause infection

4
 causes Munchausen syndrome?

 The exact cause is not known, but researchers believe

psychological factors play a role in the development of this
syndrome

 Some theories suggest that a history of abuse or neglect as a

child, or a history of frequent illnesses requiring hospitalization,
might be factors associated with the development of this
syndrome.

 Researchers are also studying the possible link with personality

disorders, which are common in these individuals.

5
 Risk factors
o Childhood trauma, such as emotional, physical or sexual
abuse
o A serious illness during childhood
o Loss of a loved one through death or illness
o A poor sense of identity or self-esteem
o Desire to be associated with doctors or medical centers
o A history of mental problems such as depression,
hallucinations or post-traumatic stress disorder.

6
 Factitious disorder symptoms
• Problems with identity and self-esteem.
• Presence of multiple scars.
• Making frequent visits to hospitals.
• Being willing to undergo often painful or
dangerous tests and procedures.
• Claiming to have a history of complex and serious
medical conditions
• Refusing psychiatric assessment and treatment
• Extensive use of medical terms and the disease
7
 Diagnostic of factitious disorder

Diagnosing factitious disorder is very difficult

If the healthcare provider finds no physical reason for the

symptoms, he or she may refer the person to a psychiatrist or
psychologist.
They use a thorough medical history and physical history.

Lab tests may be required, including complete blood

count (CBC), urine toxicology, drug levels from blood.
CT scan, MRI
Another mental disorder does not better explain the behavior
8
 Treating Munchausen's syndrome

• Treating Munchausen's syndrome can be difficult

because most people with it refuse to admit they have a
problem and refuse to co-operate with treatment plans.
• It may be possible to help control the symptoms of
Munchausen's syndrome By:
1.  psychotherapy 
2. Family therapy
3. Group therapy 
4. Medications to treat associated mental health illnesses
such as depression or anxiety.
9
 Treatment
• 1- The primary treatment for Munchausen
syndrome is 
psychotherapy

Psychoanalysis cognitive-behavioral therapy

{attempts to resolve [help to change the person’s
unconscious beliefs and unrealistic beliefs and actions}
motivations.}

10
 Treatment
2- Family therapy:
• People with Munchausen's syndrome still in close
contact with their family and teaching them
about syndrome
• teach family members how to avoid reinforcing
the person's abnormal behavior. For example,
when the person is playing the "sick role" the
family should avoid showing his concern or
offering support.
11
 Treatment
3- Group therapy may reduce feelings of isolation
or feelings that no one cares for you.
4- Medication: might be used to treat a related
disorder such as depression or anxiety.
 such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
that are used to treat mood disorders can be
used to treat factitious disorder,

12
 Munchausen syndrome by proxy

Also called factitious disorder imposed on another

 is a mental health disorder in which a caregiver, most often a

mother, routinely makes up fake symptoms or causes real symptoms
in a child or adult victim to make it appear that the victim has a true
physical or mental health issue.

 These actions are typically a result of a maladaptive disorder or

excessive attention-seeking by the caregiver.

 It’s considered a very serious form of child abuse.

13
 Case Study
• Lacy Spears is the mother of a 5 yrs old boy
that cause her son a Carnett’s disease. She
poisoned him by delivering salt through a
feeding tube.
• Her son died at age of 5, and she was found
guilty and sentenced to a 20 yrs in prison.
• This case is considered as an example for
Munchausen Syndrome, [True, False]?

14
 Case Study
• Miss Scott age 50 yrs old, she was unhappy as a
childhood, and sexually abused and neglected. At
age, 16, she had her appendix removed, and for the
1st time in her life she felt happy.
• Since then, she admitted herself into more than 600
hospitals and had over 42 unnecessary surgeries.
• The last year of her life, she got truly sick but no
one believed here due to her reputation.
• This case is considered as an example for
Munchausen Syndrome, [True, False]?
15
 Quiz
1. What is another name of Munchausen
syndrome {MS}?
2. Why do people who suffer from(MS)?
3. Victims are willing to undergo extreme
measure to receive treatment. [true or false}
4. Are victims of MS aware that they don’t
suffer from symptoms?

16