Every fifth Hyderabadi suffers from ‘Munchausen Syndrome’

Of late Hyderabadis are sceptical about their health and are repeatedly going for complete health check-ups. This trend has increased exponentially over the last five years. Called as Munchausen Syndrome, people are forcing doctors to prescribe tests for them. Worse, if the doctors deny, they switch to other medical practitioners. However, it’s the diagnostic centres that are having the last laugh

Be it cold, cough or even a slight bout of fever, people nowadays are rushing to hospitals and going ahead with full health check-ups. The bouts of cold, cough or even fever might be seasonal, yet the average Hyderabadi is frantically visiting hospitals and getting check-ups done. These check-ups are not done once but many a times, even though the report mentions that the person is healthy. Over the past five years, number of complete health check-ups done have increased exponentially.

Most doctors in the city are saying that over the years, people in the city have developed what is called as Munchausen Syndrome. Munchausen Syndrome is a psychiatric factitious disorder where people pretend to have a disease, illness, or psychological trauma in order to draw attention, sympathy, or reassurance towards them. In this aspect, it is more of a reassurance coupled with suspicion.

According to a study, twenty in every hundred are susceptible to this syndrome. It is because of this very syndrome, people are thronging diagnostic centres and they are minting profits.

In 2009, the number of full health check-ups at prominent hospitals like NIMS, Apollo, Yashoda, Star and Care stood at 36,056. In 2013, the numbers rocketed to 79,204. In Nizam’s Institute of Medical Science (NIMS), the number of out-patients at Cardiology is more than 20 and that of endocrinology is even more. Sadly, 30 per cent of these patients are victims of Munchausen Syndrome.

“Of late, we have many cases where we diagnose the patient and declare him fit and fine. Yet they get back to us demanding us to prescribe various tests.

Earlier, it was only the IT and ITES employees who used to suffer from this syndrome. Now even government employees have joined the league. The issue with these patients is that, if we deny them to go for further tests, they will search for another doctor who would prescribe it.

If it is a disease, it can be cured. But suspicion has no cure,” says D Sribhushan Raju, Head, Nephrology, NIMS.

Explaining the cause of this syndrome, SV Nagnath, psychologist, says, “Emotional instability, lack of attention and sympathy are the basic reasons for this personality disorder.

It's not fear against life, but due to lack of emotional support and security from their partner or family. Irrespective of their financial position, when they don't get enough response for their feelings, they emotionally divert a person to gain sympathy. In the process, they claim that they are unfit physically and psychologically. Such people need motivational counselling and should be adviced to indulge in social activities. Travelling, meeting different people would help them come out of this mindset.”