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Cardiac Munchausen syndrome

Nirav J Mehta1, Ijaz A Khan

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE 68131-2044, USA.

Chest
|November 12, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac Munchausen syndrome involves patients feigning cardiac symptoms, leading to numerous unnecessary procedures and potential organ damage. Long-term prognosis remains poorly understood, highlighting a critical gap in medical knowledge.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Medical Ethics

Background:

  • Cardiac Munchausen syndrome is a rare factitious disorder where individuals feign cardiac symptoms.
  • This condition leads to extensive and often unnecessary medical interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and characterize the clinical presentation of cardiac Munchausen syndrome.
  • To understand the diagnostic challenges and patient behaviors associated with this condition.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted across all languages.
  • Identified cases, case series, and related articles on cardiac Munchausen syndrome.

Main Results:

  • Fifty-eight cases were identified, predominantly affecting middle-aged men (93%).
  • Chest pain mimicking acute coronary syndrome was the most common presentation, leading to frequent hospital admissions (average 6 per patient) and invasive procedures.
  • Patients often altered their stories and left against medical advice when confronted, with 95% exhibiting deceptive behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiac Munchausen syndrome results in significant patient harm through unnecessary investigations and invasive procedures.
  • There is a notable lack of information regarding the long-term prognosis and management of these patients.
Abstract

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