Munchausen's syndrome is the medical name for certain behaviors of people who are prone to imagination and fantasy. But these are not just fantasies on harmless topics! The fact is that such people experience a simulative disorder. They intentionally love to cause any painful syndromes and symptoms, so that they are hospitalized with further long-term treatment and even surgical intervention! They just crave to be in hospital beds! We’ll talk about this.
Who is this Munchausen?
Munchausen’s syndrome received its terminological name from the name of a real historical prototype - the German baron Karl Friedrich Jerome Munchausen, who lived in Germany in the 18th century. He was a cavalry officer and gained wide popularity by serving in the Russian army and participating in Turkish wars.
Having retired, Baron Munchausen became famous as a man who constantly composes the most incredible and fantastic stories about his military adventures and adventures. Subsequently, this formed the basis of the book on the adventures of Baron Munchausen, written by his contemporary Rudolf Erich Raspe.
Munchausen's syndrome. Symptoms
This syndrome is considered a very rare disorder. Patients suffering from it do not end up in psychiatric hospitals, but in the most ordinary hospitals and surgical departments. It's hard to believe, but they just crave to get there. So we come close to the symptoms of this strange mental disorder. It:
- constant complaints of pseudo-diseases;
- constant surgical interventions and frank operations;
- almost eternal hospital stay.
Today, this mental disorder is considered an extreme form of people's simulative behavior, which is central to their lives.
Munchausen syndrome as a pathological lie
In addition to the above-described attraction to everything medical, patients suffering from this form of the disorder are prone to pseudology, i.e. to pathological deceit. While in the hospital, they come up with more and more symptoms, supplementing their complaints ... Often they stage various attacks of various diseases, and all so that they are hospitalized as soon as possible. Madhouse.
Types of Munchausen Syndrome
Munchausen's syndrome has several types. It all depends on the favorite symptoms attributed to patients.
- Abdominal. It is characterized by abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea, indigestion.
- Hemorrhagic. In this case, patients show bleeding. For example, they specially incise their gums, showing symptoms of pulmonary hemorrhage!
- Neurological. This is the most common simulation of fainting, seizures, and convulsions.
- Dermatological. Patients simulate the symptoms of any skin diseases with irritating ointments and paints.
And finally
And one more thing: the common feature of all “Munchausens” is that they simply adore “directing” their own treatment while in hospital. They consider themselves sufficiently enlightened in the field of medicine, since they themselves "draw" certain clinical pictures, demonstrating the necessary symptoms in time.