Munchausen by Proxy
Jerry Covington
Professor Marianne Shablousky
Intro to Psychology
17 November 2013
Munchausen by proxy
This presentation is an overview of the condition factitious disorder by proxy, also known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MBP). We’ll begin by highlighting the definitions of the disorder and the etiology. Then we’ll analyze relevant symptoms of the perpetrator and the reasons they abuse the child. Some methods of abuse are highlighted and the social psychiatric illness common in the perpetrator. A discussion of the complex issues facing the medical professionals when faced with confronting the perpetrator and the decision to take the child away from the parent is also included. The prognosis for the perpetrator does not look very good and further research into treatment for family’s needs to be done. The popular solution employed now is to remove the child. Family reunification is not common because the recidivism is very high as in most child abuse cases.
Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MBP), a type of factitious disorder, is a mental illness. It is a term used to describe a behavior pattern where a caregiver, usually a parent, deliberately fabricates and perpetrates an illness upon a child. This person acts as if an individual he or she is caring for has a physical or mental illness when the person is not really sick. The adult perpetrator has MBP and directly produces or lies about illness in another person under his or her care, usually a child under 6 years of age. It is considered a form of abuse by the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. However, cases have been reported of adult victims. (The term "by proxy" means "through a substitute.")
Experts explain that Munchausen was first used in the 1950s to describe a psychological disorder where patients fake or bring about illness in order to play the role of a sick patient. In 1977 MBP was first used to describe a severe form of child abuse where children are treated
Professor Marianne Shablousky
Intro to Psychology
17 November 2013
Munchausen by proxy
This presentation is an overview of the condition factitious disorder by proxy, also known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MBP). We’ll begin by highlighting the definitions of the disorder and the etiology. Then we’ll analyze relevant symptoms of the perpetrator and the reasons they abuse the child. Some methods of abuse are highlighted and the social psychiatric illness common in the perpetrator. A discussion of the complex issues facing the medical professionals when faced with confronting the perpetrator and the decision to take the child away from the parent is also included. The prognosis for the perpetrator does not look very good and further research into treatment for family’s needs to be done. The popular solution employed now is to remove the child. Family reunification is not common because the recidivism is very high as in most child abuse cases.
Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MBP), a type of factitious disorder, is a mental illness. It is a term used to describe a behavior pattern where a caregiver, usually a parent, deliberately fabricates and perpetrates an illness upon a child. This person acts as if an individual he or she is caring for has a physical or mental illness when the person is not really sick. The adult perpetrator has MBP and directly produces or lies about illness in another person under his or her care, usually a child under 6 years of age. It is considered a form of abuse by the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. However, cases have been reported of adult victims. (The term "by proxy" means "through a substitute.")
Experts explain that Munchausen was first used in the 1950s to describe a psychological disorder where patients fake or bring about illness in order to play the role of a sick patient. In 1977 MBP was first used to describe a severe form of child abuse where children are treated