Citation

Krause U, Eigler FW. Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. 1990; 115(37): 1379-1385.

Vernacular Title

Artifizielle Krankheit in der Chirurgie. Das Problem der selbstinduzierten

Affiliation

Abteilung für Allgemeine Chirurgie, Zentrum Chirurgie der Universität Essen.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

10.1055/s-2008-1065167

PMID

2401190

Abstract

Self-inflicted disorders of wound healing (lasting for 18 to 84 months and requiring 85 surgical interventions) were diagnosed in ten patients (8 women and 2 men, aged 29 years) nine of whom had undergone various operations. Retrospectively the indications for the primary operation (appendectomy in four, mastectomy, cholecystectomy, adnexectomy, removal of a lipoma and incision of a perineal abscess in one each) had not been unequivocal. One woman was also anorexic, two had "psychogenic seizures", and three had marital or partner problems. One man who had a self-inflicted skin emphysema committed suicide two years later, and one woman died of septicaemia after a self-induced wound healing disorder. The wound healing disorders finally healed in seven patients. Psychotherapy was successful in two patients.

Language: de