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PubMed1998

[Factitious insulinoma].

A 32-year-old woman was admitted with signs of recurrent hypoglycaemia. Within 72 hours hypoglycaemia was successfully provoked by prolonged fasting. Also, blood samples demonstrated high levels of serum insulin and C-peptide and the insulin-glucose ratio was abnormally high. An insulinoma was strongly suspected. However, extensive imaging displayed no tumour in the pancreas. The patient also had extensive psychological and social problems. The psychiatrist suggested a factitious disorder. High serum concentrations of insulin and C-peptide in combination with the psychiatric disorder led to the suspicion of abuse of sulfonylurea derivatives by the patient. This was confirmed by toxicological screening. A patient with unexplained hypoglycaemia, especially if an insulinoma cannot be detected, should be suspected of abusing sulfonylurea derivatives.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Is there a false memory syndrome? A review of three cases.

The controversy over recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is whether such experiences can be forgotten for long periods and retrieved later in therapy or in response to cues or triggers from the environment. False memory syndrome (FMS) is caused by memories of a traumatic experience--most frequently CSA--which are objectively false, but in which the person strongly believes. Personality factors often play a role in the development of FMS. Because CSA is such a devastating experience, false accusations of sexual abuse have enormous, if not shattering, consequences for families. We present three case reports to illustrate features of the FMS. FMS should be listed for further study to establish valid criteria for making the diagnosis under the category of "factitious disorders," and a subcategory of "false memories/beliefs of abuse," with a further subdivision of "induced by therapy." The FMS controversy occurred in the context of a general moral panic about sexual abuse in the early 1980s. Psychiatrists should have a high degree of scepticism to moral panics.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The somatic patient.

A significant proportion of patients seen in the Emergency Department will present with somatic complaints for which there is no apparent physiologic cause. Such patients may be divided into two broad categories: (1) those with symptoms and signs consciously synthesized by the patient, either for obvious secondary gain (malingering) or as a result of more subtle and complex motivations (factitious disorders); and (2) those patients with symptoms that are the unconscious expression of psychological stress (somatoform disorders). The somatoform disorders include (1) somatization disorder (characterized by a chronic history of numerous and widely divergent somatic complaints), (2) psychogenic pain disorder (somatization expressed in terms of persistent pain), (3) hypochondriasis (a conviction that one is diseased and disabled in conjunction with a well-focused constellation of supporting symptoms), and (4) conversion disorder (a single, usually nonpainful neurologic symptom, often with identifiable coping value for the patient). The first three disorders have been aggregately termed the "common somatization syndrome." Management of the somatically focused patient includes the communication of a caring attitude to the patient in conjunction with a cautious and diligent search for treatable medical or psychiatric illness. Resocialization and development of patient links with ongoing, nurturing nonmedical as well as medical support systems is of benefit.

Emergency Service, Hospital↗
PubMed1994

Addiction to surgery: a nursing dilemma.

Factitious disorder is either a rare or underdiagnosed disorder and therefore, not one the nursing staff anticipates. Once the disorder is diagnosed, the intense feelings of the nursing staff may overwhelm them. Therefore, the staff should be able to participate in discussion sessions conducted by a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist or another qualified person. Such sessions should focus on recognition of feelings, comparison of one's feelings with those of other staff members, and sharing of perceptions about the situation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dermatitis artefacta in pediatric patients: experience at the national institute of pediatrics.

Dermatitis artefacta is a factitious disorder in which there is deliberate conscious production of skin lesions. There are only a few reports that evaluate instances of dermatitis artefacta in the pediatric population. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the characteristics of patients with this disorder who were seen at the National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico City. The records of all patients diagnosed with dermatitis artefacta from January 1980 to December 1999 were analyzed. There were 29 patients (25 females, 4 males). The upper limbs and the face were the most commonly involved areas. Superficial erosions were the most frequent initial event, and residual lesions consisted of scars and crusts. Time taken to diagnosis was on average 10 months. Half of the patients were lost to follow-up. No correlation was found between the length of time from the disease onset to diagnosis, the type of lesions, and the clinical outcome. Twelve patients had an associated systemic disorder. The possible association with chronic disease has not been sufficiently stressed and demonstrates the importance of providing psychological support for these patients. Psychiatric diagnoses were anxiety, depression, and personality disorder. No correlation was found between the psychiatric diagnosis and the outcome of dermatitis artefacta. A young age at presentation, which has been considered important as a favorable prognostic sign, could not be demonstrated in our patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Depersonalization and self-injury].

Patients with deliberate self harm syndrome and with factitious disorders often describe depersonalisation phenomena, during which they have a diminished pain sensitivity or analgesia. The self-mutilating act can stop the depersonalisation temporarily. Concerning the psychodynamic processes there are common traits between depersonalisation and self-mutilation. The connections between depersonalisation and self-mutilating behaviour are described. Depersonalisation is understood as a defense mechanism, ranging between mature and immature defense mechanisms. An illustrative case is demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Adolescents with factitious HIV disease.

PURPOSE: To describe two cases of factitious HIV disease and their implications for clinical practice and research. METHODS: Review of medical records and literature search. RESULTS: A 19-year-old female and 17-year-old male were referred to an adolescent HIV clinic for evaluation and treatment of HIV disease. The former reported having been tested at a primary care clinic because of her history of transfusions, although the likely route of infection was intravenous drug use. The 17-year-old claimed to have contracted HIV through unprotected vaginal intercourse. Both patients reported HIV-related symptoms and prior seropositive HIV antibody test results which could not be corroborated. Other important features were histories of mental health problems, lack of apparent distress regarding HIV infection, and extensive knowledge of HIV disease. CONCLUSIONS: In both cases, the most likely diagnosis was Factitious Disorder with combined psychological and physical signs and symptoms, based on the feigning of seropositive HIV test results, report of physical symptoms undocumented by physical examination, the need to assume the sick role, and the absence of obvious secondary gain. This report serves to underscore the need to confirm the presence of HIV infection in young people who seek treatment for HIV disease, especially when clinical presentations resemble these cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Misdiagnosed HIV infection in pregnant women: implications for clinical care.

Out of nearly 900 women in a research study of human immunodeficiency virus infection in pregnancy, 8 were subsequently found not to be infected. Misdiagnoses could have resulted from (a) laboratory errors or specimen mixups; (b) failure to follow the testing algorithm recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to confirm results; (c) women perceiving they were infected by high-risk behavior in the absence of testing, despite the receipt of negative test results, or based on screening results only; or (d) factitious disorder, HIV Munchausen syndrome, or malingering. Because of the potentially devastating impact of an HIV diagnosis and the toxicity of HIV therapies, health care providers should obtain independent confirmation of the diagnosis before initiating treatment or followup for HIV based on patient report or provider referral. Quality test interpretation and counseling must be ensured. Therapeutic interventions may be indicated for persons intentionally and falsely presenting themselves as HIV-infected.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cultural assimilation and factitious symptoms].

With description of the case of a patient birth in Maroco and emigrated in France at 10 years old, met during 6 years, we try to include signs noticed in a nosologic entity. Some patients offer many complaints and have very frequent contacts for themselves or their family, with the practitioners. Events of current life grow expression of their troubles. Cultural difference will be integrated in anamnesis, hearing and in care. Production of symptoms for himself or for children are called: factitious disorders, Münchhausen's syndrome, Polle's syndrome or Meadow's syndrome. Generally physicians are in check with these patients. During medical session this relationship requires to try to have clarifications or have research of meaning. These patients are very often refractory in psychotherapy and no compliant for institutional therapy. For second generation of immigrants, cultural identity is in conflict with personal identity, in part caused by the decay of social group of belonging. Troubles caused by distortion of fusional relation with mother can be favoring factors of these diseases for Maghrebian patients.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1995

Psychiatric aspects of chronic pain.

Chronic pain complaints often reflect or are influenced by psychiatric factors. Physicians commonly encounter "illness-affirming behaviors" in which patient complaints or symptoms go beyond what should be expected from a specific disease process. In this paper, I describe common psychiatric conditions that often feature pain as part of the illness: somatization disorder, hypochondriasis, factitious physical disorders, pain associated with psychological factors (new DSM-IV nomenclature), and malingering. These conditions can be distinguished based on the conscious awareness (or lack of awareness) of both motivation and symptom production. Other psychiatric disorders may strongly influence chronic pain without directly causing it--depression, anxiety, panic, and post-traumatic stress disorders. Except for malingering and factitious pain, chronic pain should be regarded as genuine. Effective management requires psychiatric as well as biological considerations.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Cutaneous artefacts--possibilities for treatment and their limits].

Factitious disorders (FD) of the skin are emergency calls of the patient, whose psychological problems are mostly unconscious. The therapeutic approach is difficult, because the patient does not accept the necessary psychiatric or psychotherapeutic therapy. Therefore, they remain under the medical care of their dermatologists. We report on the experiences of our psychological team gathered during a clinical study on 16 patients with FD. We distinguish between three types of FD, each implicating a different therapeutic approach: unconscious FD (type A), conscious FD (type B), and so-called neurotic excoriations (type C). On the basis of 3 corresponding cases, we discuss the possible psychosomatic therapeutic approaches, the indications and limits of the treatment, as well as prognostic aspects.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Expanded profile of the SHAFT syndrome.

The SHAFT syndrome is a factitious disorder in which a patient manipulates the surgeon to perform operations to fulfill his or her psychological needs. The acronym describes patients who are sad, hostile, anxious, frustrating, and tenacious. A chart review from January 1990 to June 1996 was undertaken to provide a profile to aid in the recognition and diagnosis of the SHAFT syndrome. An analysis of 28 patients revealed characteristics supporting a definitive SHAFT profile. Patients with SHAFT syndrome seek physicians to perform invasive procedures. Their typical complaint is pain, usually without objective physical findings that would support a more definitive diagnosis. Such patients tend to be women, cry with pain, describe symptoms out of proportion to objective findings, and have a history of psychiatric care.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Coexistence of Munchausen's syndrome and multiple personality disorder: detailed report of a case and theoretical discussion.

Patients with factitious disorders represent an important challenge to medical and psychiatric caregivers. The literature on Munchausen's syndrome abounds with entertaining descriptions of these flamboyant patients, but rarely is there significant understanding of the mechanisms of the disease. We present a case where Munchausen's syndrome coincided with multiple personality disorder (MPD). The patient has been known to us for over 10 years, and some resolution of the Munchausen's syndrome is occurring in response to appropriate therapy for the multiple personality disorder. We point out the need to seek out dissociative phenomena in self-abusive patients, as this may provide a clue for psychodynamic understanding and rational therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Pathomimia in upper limb].

Pathomimia, or factitious disorders, are characterized by producing symptoms voluntarily with the intention of playing the role of the patient. Inspite of being considerd as a psychatric disorder, pathomimuia is often encountered in the daily professional life of doctors without being recognized or diagnosed. There are various clinical aspects of pathomimia. The items that decide the orientation of the diagnosis are essentially the uncommon and odd expression of the reported symptoms, A capricious evolution as well as the multiplicity of the past medical cases. We report a group of five patients who were followed and treated between the years 2000 and 2003. This group was composed of three men and two women with an average age of 30 years. In three cases, we found the notion of skin injury. In one case, we noted a median nerve lesion in the elbow and once in the right upper member. The evolution was performed towards recidives of the initial symptomatology with more or less long periods of improvements.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Rheumatic manifestations of neurologic and psychiatric diseases.

Rheumatic diseases have not proved to be more prevalent among neurologic or psychiatric patients than in the general population, except for osteoarthritis in some chronic disabling neurologic conditions (poliomyelitis, spinal cord injury). Some neurologic entities with relevant musculoskeletal manifestations are described here. The lower prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in schizophrenia patients is mentioned, and a brief description is presented of somatoform disorders that may confound diagnosis with rheumatic diseases. Factitious disorders and malingering are frequently presented with rheumatic complaints such as low back pain and may have an important impact on the costs associated with the disease. Finally, some of the immune system abnormalities described in major depression and schizophrenia are mentioned with a clear reference to the growing field of psychoneuroimmunology. This paper will not address the issue of neurologic or psychiatric manifestations of rheumatic diseases.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed2004

A Somatoform Variant of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Case Report of OCD Presenting With Persistent Vomiting.

Acute nausea and vomiting are often self-limited or easily treated. Persistent vomiting, however, poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for the primary care physician. In addition to gastrointestinal, neurologic, and endocrine disorders, the differential diagnosis includes psychiatric illnesses, such as eating and factitious disorders. We present the case of a 52-year-old woman referred to the Tulane University Internal Medicine/Psychiatry clinic with persistent daily vomiting for 8 years despite repeated medical evaluations. The vomiting was of sufficient severity to require intensive care unit admission for hematemesis. A dually trained internal medicine-psychiatry house officer obtained further history and identified that the woman experienced an intrusive thought that urged her to vomit after each meal. Resisting the urge resulted in intolerable anxiety that was relieved only by vomiting. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria. Initiation of escitalopram with titration to clinical response resulted in full symptom resolution and meaningful quality of life improvement. Pertinent literature was reviewed using 2 methods: (1) an English-language MEDLINE search (1966-February 2004) using the search terms vomiting and (chronicor psychogenicor psychiatric), and obsessive-compulsive disorder and (primary care or treatment); and (2) a direct search of reference lists of pertinent journal articles. A review of psychiatric etiologies of vomiting and primary care aspects of OCD is presented. Primary care clinicians are strongly encouraged to consider psychiatric etiologies, including OCD, when common symptoms persist or present in atypical ways. Such disorders can be debilitating but also responsive to treatment.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

DSM-III in Ethiopia: a feasibility study.

A feasibility study of DSM-III on 40 Ethiopian visitors to a psychiatric outpatient clinic in Addis Ababa was carried out by a Dutch psychiatrist, with three of his Dutch colleagues. In spite of the highly idiosyncratic way in which Ethiopians present their complaints, the diagnostic criteria of DSM-III appeared to be useful to a certain extent. The outcome of an inter-rater reliability study was comparable with that of an American one. The results were congruent for the classes that are rather well-defined in the DSM-III, like the psychotic and affective disorders. This did not apply to the classes of the somatoform and factitious disorders. Possible reasons for this are discussed.

Adult↗