Page 207 - KNJIGA SAŽETAKA

INOVACIJE I IZAZOVI U OBRAZOVANJU I SESTRINSKOJ SKRBI - KNJIGA SAŽETAKA

Care for Mother and Child in Munchausen Syndrome

Munchausen Syndrome is also known as "hospital addiction," referring to a situation where a person,
usually a mother, frequently visits hospitals citing symptoms of an illness. This syndrome is a severe
mental illness where a person, in a strong desire for attention, pretends to be sick or intentionally causes
illness/injury to themselves. Munchausen Syndrome falls into the category of fabricated or factitious
disorders. It is difficult and often rarely diagnosed, making it challenging to treat; the help for sufferers
is based on preventing injuries and possible death. Those affected by this syndrome often have extensive
knowledge of medicine. The reasons are mostly emotional instability, psychological and physical abuse,
and health difficulties during childhood. Most symptoms of this syndrome are physical, so a mental
disorder is not suspected. After various tests and findings, physical symptoms can be excluded, leading
to suspicion of Munchausen Syndrome. Additionally, there is Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, defined
as the fabrication or falsification of psychological and physical symptoms in close relatives to indirectly
assume the role of the sick person. This syndrome most commonly occurs in cases between parent and
child, with the mother usually being the one who abuses the child and controls the severity and type of
symptoms, while fathers are unaware or completely oblivious to the situation. Mothers often visit
doctors of various medical branches and specializations to obtain as many medications as possible and
to avoid being discovered for the abuse. "Doctor shopping" is the term for such behavior. In some cases
of this syndrome, the victim may eventually die due to the mother subjecting the child to excessive and
various treatments until they become paralyzed and ultimately die. This paper will present several
examples of this syndrome, the symptoms children reportedly had according to their mothers, the course
of treatment, treatment outcomes, and ways of detecting this syndrome.

Key words: child, mother, illness, Munchausen Syndrome, symptoms

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