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Neurol Clin Pract 2021 Feb;11(1):64-68

Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.

Purpose Of Review: Munchausen syndrome by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a phenomenon we describe as patients exhibiting factitious symptoms to assume the role of the sick patient, desiring and received tPA, with no alternative diagnosis or secondary gain to better account for their presentation. To illustrate this phenomenon and its magnitude, we present a series of cases of Munchausen syndrome by tPA, prevalence in our stroke center, and highlight one illustrative case.

Recent Findings: Of 335 cases with tPA administration over 29 months, 10 were confirmed as Munchausen syndrome by tPA, reflecting a 3. Read More

J Oral Rehabil 2021 May 9. Epub 2021 May 9.

Department of Biomedical Technologies, School of Dentistry, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Background: Based on a variety of studies conducted in recent years, some of the factors that might contribute to the negative treatment responses of some TMD patients have been elucidated.

Methods: This paper describes known vulnerability factors that make individuals susceptible to developing temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), as well as those that contribute to the perpetuation of such problems. In addition, the topic of iatrogenesis is discussed as a major contributor to the negative outcomes that can be seen in this field. Read More

Clin Med Insights Case Rep 2021 21;14:11795476211009234. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Endocrinology Research Centre, Moscow, Russia.

Hypoglycemic syndrome is a life-threatening condition that can lead to hypoglycemic coma and death. Surreptitious hypoglycemic syndrome is the deliberate use of insulin preparations or oral hypoglycemic drugs aimed to reduce blood glucose level. If human insulin is injected, high level of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and low level of C-peptide at the moment of hypoglycemia are always detected. Read More

Cureus 2021 Mar 27;13(3):e14135. Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Department of Mental Health, Ministry of the National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, SAU.

Background Factitious disorder (FD) is a psychiatric disease where signs and symptoms are produced, falsified, or exaggerated consciously in the absence of clear external motivations. Through needless medical visits, costly investigatory testing, and potentially long hospital stays, patients with FD waste valuable time and resources, which affects both the patient and the healthcare system. It can be very challenging for physicians who have never encountered patients with FD to recognize them promptly as symptoms of FD vary greatly. Read More

Ann Clin Psychiatry 2021 05;33(2):e8-e12

Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.

Background: In representative cases of Munchausen by internet (MBI), an individual (or "poser") goes online to falsely report or exaggerate illnesses or life crises. The principal goal, as in factitious disorder imposed on self or another, is to garner emotional satisfaction. We provide the first evidence that MBI can target a specific type of health care provider-in this case, birthing doulas. Read More

Rev Mal Respir 2021 Apr 5;38(4):418-422. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

CIC-CRB 1404, unité de physiologie respiratoire et sportive, centre hospitalier universitaire de Rouen, 1, rue de Germont, 76000 Rouen, France.

Introduction: Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) is a syndrome characterized by paradoxical adduction of the vocal folds during breathing. Its non-specific clinical manifestations frequently lead to misdiagnosis and delay in its treatment. The treatment of VCD is not pharmacological but rehabilitative and remains poorly appreciated. Read More

SAGE Open Med Case Rep 2021 12;9:2050313X211000869. Epub 2021 Mar 12.

Department of Internal Medicine, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan.

Factitious disorders and Munchausen syndromes present with history and physical symptoms to all specialties, and they are often extensively evaluated. Diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome is a challenge and patients often do not receive the correct diagnosis and appropriate care especially in settings where access to mental health professionals is difficult. We present a case of recurrent bleed from the right ear, bilateral profound hearing loss and jerky movement of limbs that was extensively evaluated and followed up for 4 years until a diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome was reached. Read More

Gen Dent 2021 Mar-Apr;69(2):56-59

Munchausen syndrome (MunS), or factitious disorder imposed on self, is an exceedingly rare and immensely difficult syndrome to identify and manage and is considered a diagnosis of exclusion. Few reports exist in the dental literature to date, so the objective of this article is to describe a case of MunS in a 60-year-old woman who sought treatment for bilateral jaw pain and uncontrolled jaw movements. The patient's symptoms started 19 months previously, following placement of a 6-unit metal-ceramic bridge. Read More

Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2021 Feb 24:1359104521996742. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

Department of Psychiatry, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, USA.

Pediatric presentations of factitious disorder (Munchausen syndrome) remain underdiagnosed and poorly understood compared to adult cases. The purpose of this study is to review the current literature on child and adolescent factitious disorder in order to better understand the differences between pediatric and adult presentations of this disorder. We also present the case of an adolescent girl with factitious disorder; her hospital course draws attention to the excessive healthcare expenditures and risk of iatrogenic complications associated with this diagnosis. Read More

Cureus 2021 Feb 9;13(2):e13243. Epub 2021 Feb 9.

Internal Medicine, CentraCare Hospital, St. Cloud, USA.

Factitious disorder (FD) imposed on self is one of the most challenging and controversial problems in medicine. It is characterized by falsified medical or psychiatric symptoms where patients misrepresent, simulate, or cause symptoms of an illness in the absence of obvious tangible gains. Munchausen syndrome accounts for approximately 10% of all factitious illnesses and represents its most malignant form. Read More

BMJ Open 2020 12 31;10(12):e043864. Epub 2020 Dec 31.

SAPPHIRE Group, Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

Objectives: To devise an assessment tool to aid discharge and admission decision-making in relation to children and young people in hospital urgent and emergency care facilities, and thereby improve the quality of care that patients receive, using a clinical prediction modelling approach.

Design: Observational cohort study with internal and external validation of a predictive tool.

Setting: Two general emergency departments (EDs) and an urgent care centre in the North of England. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2020 Dec 22;8(12):3634-3635. Epub 2020 Oct 22.

Department of General Internal Medicine Peking Union Medical College Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Beijing China.

To learn about the imaging characteristics of pulmonary emboli caused by metallic mercury and be aware that an underlying psychiatric condition might exist when mercury poisoning is not caused by occupational exposure. Read More

J Am Acad Psychiatry Law 2020 12;48(4):431-435

Dr. Dike is Medical Director, Office of the Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Law and Psychiatry Division, Yale University School of Medicine.

Turk Psikiyatri Derg 2020 ;31(3):212-215

Factitious disorder imposed on another, also known as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP), is a serious form of child abuse that is difficult to diagnose. In general, signs and symptoms are fabricated or produced by the mother or the caregiver. Delay in diagnosis may cause serious morbidity and mortality. Read More

Psychiatry Res 2020 11 17;293:113457. Epub 2020 Sep 17.

Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal, Bhopal 462020, Madhya Pradesh, India. Electronic address:

Ann Plast Surg 2021 04;86(4):e1-e6

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL.

Introduction: Patients with factitious disorder (FD) or "Munchausen syndrome" intentionally fabricate or induce medical problems for psychological gratification. They may deceive plastic surgeons into performing multiple unnecessary procedures. We undertook the first systematic review of FD case reports in plastic surgery. Read More

CNS Spectr 2020 Aug 10:1-11. Epub 2020 Aug 10.

Clínica Universitária de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.

Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) is well-known to clinicians, but its usage is discouraged now in favor of other terms placing emphasis on the victim. This study aims to determine the most common characteristics of perpetrators but only in case reports labeled as MSBP, published in PubMed literature in the past 15 years. MSBP has been described as a rare form of abuse due to illness falsification, where the perpetrator usually receives the diagnosis of factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA). Read More

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2020 12 6;93(6):678-686. Epub 2020 Aug 6.

Department of Endocrinology, Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital, Parel, India.

Context: Insulinoma needs accurate preoperative localization for minimally invasive surgery. Exendin-4-based imaging has shown promising results.

Objective: To evaluate performance parameters of exendin-4-based imaging in insulinoma localization and compare with other imaging modalities. Read More

Turk Psikiyatri Derg 2020 ;31(2):137-142

Factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA-DSM-5), formerly known as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSP) is a form of child abuse. A case can be recognised by only keeping the relevant diagnoses in mind. There are many cases of FDIA diversified by the contributions of both the caregiver and the child. Read More

Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2020 09 11;16(3):450-456. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.

Factitious disorders (FD) like Munchausen syndrome are well known to most physicians, yet the corresponding ICD-10 diagnosis F68.1 remains severely under-assigned and often misdiagnosed. To approach this problem, we conducted a nationwide inquiry for Germany and Norway as well as a comparison between these two countries regarding the incidence of diagnosis of FD. Read More

J Opioid Manag 2020 Mar/Apr;16(2):155-159

Professor, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; McMaster Children's Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Caregiver-fabricated illness in a child (CFIC) can result in unnecessary, potentially harmful medical investigations and treatment. As pediatric pain has historically been undertreated, the movement for more compassionate treatment has led to an increase in analgesic prescribing in children and adolescents. Overall, this has been a positive change but this may also lead to unintentional harm, partic-ularly if CFIC is not considered as a possibility in the presentation. Read More

South Med J 2020 Apr;113(4):198-200

From the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky.

Munchausen syndrome is a factitious disorder that is difficult to diagnose and treat. This article clarifies points for clinical recognition and management of patients with this condition. Patients with this condition often are dramatic and provide false and/or exaggerated symptoms or information. Read More

Pediatr Rev 2020 Feb;41(2):49-60

Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont Children's Hospital, Burlington, VT.

J Pak Med Assoc 2020 Jan;70(1):168-170

Department of Otolaryngology, Patel Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

Munchausen syndrome is a rare psychiatric illness that includes mimicking a group of medical conditions, in which a person repeatedly harms him or herself or falsely misinterprets any medical condition when he or she is not actually sick, in order to achieve health care attention. Underdiagnosis of this syndrome leads to irrelevant use of medical assets. Here, we document an interesting and rare case of a young girl presented in the outpatient department of the Otolaryngology department of Patel Hospital with episodes of bleeding from her ear, which is a rare presentation of Munchausen syndrome. Read More

J Infus Nurs 2020 Jan/Feb;43(1):39-46

Forrest General Home Care and Hospice, Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Factitious disorder, formerly known as Munchausen syndrome, is a type of mental illness in which patients fabricate symptoms to gain attention or sympathy. When considering a patient with factitious disorder as a candidate for infusion therapy, the clinician must be aware of the challenges associated with providing an invasive treatment to high-risk patients while promoting safety. Read More

Open Med (Wars) 2019 7;14:792-796. Epub 2019 Nov 7.

Cardiology Department, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland.

Münchausen syndrome can be characterized by simulated illness, pathological lying and wandering from place to place (the patient typically presents to numerous hospitals). Individuals with elevated blood pressure due to non-adherence to medication have the so-called pseudo-resistant hypertension. A 45-year-old woman was admitted to hospital on an emergency basis because of a hypertensive crisis. Read More

Br J Nurs 2019 Nov;28(20):1288-1290

Staff Nurse, Paediatric Critical Care, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.