Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy), a Potentially Lethal Form of Child Abuse

Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy), a Potentially Lethal Form of Child Abuse

Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another is a behavior pattern in which a caregiver fabricates, exaggerates, or induces mental or physical health problems in those who are in her or his care. With deception at its core, this behavior is an elusive, potentially lethal, and frequently misunderstood form of child abuse or medical neglect that has been difficult to define, detect, and confirm. Sympto...

'Battered pets': Munchausen syndrome by proxy (factitious illness by proxy).

Nine cases of suspected Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP), involving pets as proxies, were identified among 448 cases of non-accidental injury to small animals. These cases, recorded by a random sample of small animal practitioners in the UK, demonstrated several combinations of features, including attention-seeking behaviour by the owner, real and apparently factitious clinical signs, delibe...

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy: Broadening the Scope of Child Abuse

Münchausen's syndrome by proxy as a form of child abuse.

Munchausen's syndrome by proxy (MSBP) is an emotional disorder in which the parent, almost always the mother, induces or fabricates illness in her child in order to gain medical attention. Although numerous case studies exist in pediatric and medical literature, most nurses are unaware of the warning signs of this disorder. Psychiatric consultation liaison nurses are in an ideal position to ide...

Munchausen syndrome by proxy abuse perpetrated by men.

Fifteen families are described in which one or more child incurred factitious illness abuse as a result of the father's false story and actions. The degree of direct physical harm, and the chance of death, was high in those families in which the father had Munchausen syndrome or marked somatising disorder. Eleven children died and another six survived repetitive smothering or poisoning. Althoug...