Early onset Münchausen’s syndrome

Abstract

This study presents a clinical case description of a factitious disorder in a woman whose diagnosis was made during her childhood. The onset of the disorder took place at 12 years of age and the fundamental clinical characteristics are: limited frequency with which the diagnosis is made in this period of life as well as the multiple symptoms manifested by the patient, both abdominal as well as neurological and hemorrhaging ones. A careful analysis of the personality traits and biographic history of the patient was also perfomed. The characteristics of the factitious disorder in childhood, as well as the relationship of this syndrome with the personality disorders, are discussed.