[Factitious Disorder in Obstetrics: Case Report]

Abstract

Introduction: Munchhausen's syndrome is the best-studied type of factitious disorder with predominantly physical signs and symptoms. However, its clinical presentation during pregnancy is rare and literature on the subject is scarce.

Objective: To present a case of factitious disorder during pregnancy.

Method: Review and analysis of a clinical case.

Results: The case of a 30-year-old woman six weeks pregnant who consults on multiple occasions with emesis and abdominal pain is discussed. Various different diagnoses were considered and pathologies such as acute intermittent porphyria, narcotic bowel syndrome, abdominal epilepsy, and esophageal spasm were discarded. The patient expressed her desire to terminate the pregnancy at week 21. The pregnancy was terminated after a medical panel concluded that there were both organic and mental conditions that placed the patient's health at risk.

Conclusions: Factitious disorders are very complex and extremely challenging to the clinician especially during the initial phases. They are seldom suspected and rarely diagnosed even in hospital settings. Therefore it is of utmost importance to educate healthcare professionals in the detection of this disorder to ensure proper management and treatment.

Keywords: Munchausen's syndrome; Síndrome de Münchausen; embarazo; factitious disorder; obstetricia; obstetrics; pregnancy; trastornos fingidos.