| Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) is a | | | | People with MSP believe the role of a sick person |
| form of child abuse in which a parent induces real | | | | indirectly by producing or laying about illness in |
| or apparent symptoms of a disease in a child. The | | | | other person under their care, generally a child |
| caregiver almost always is a mother, and the | | | | under 6 years of age. In general, MSP occurs |
| victim, her child. Because children are the victims, | | | | more often in women than in men. Approximately |
| MSBP is considered a form of child abuse. There | | | | 98% of persons with Munchausen syndrome by |
| are different intensities and manifestations of this | | | | proxy are women. The causes of MSP are both |
| disorder. Symptoms of MSBP are hard to identify | | | | biological and psychological factors play a role in |
| but are most prevalent when the child only | | | | the development of this disorder. A history of |
| becomes sick in the presence of his or her | | | | abuse or neglect as a child or the early loss of a |
| mother. The mother maintains a dynamic | | | | parent might be factors in its development. Some |
| relationship with the physician, as the whole | | | | evidence suggests that major stress, such as |
| disorder is centered upon her need for attention | | | | marital problems, can trigger an MSP episode. |
| from the doctor. | | | | Successful treatment of people with MSBP is |
| It is most widely agreed that MBPS is caused by | | | | difficult because those with the disorder |
| a need for attention and compassion to placate | | | | frequently deny there is a problem. Treatment of |
| self-doubt in the sufferer. This condition is related | | | | MSBP involves treating the child (victim), the |
| to Munchausen syndrome, a similar disorder in | | | | patient, and the family. Individual therapy is aimed |
| which a person causes or reports symptoms in | | | | at decreasing anxiety, stressors, and other |
| him or herself. Children who are victims of MSBP | | | | problems that perpetuate the illness. |
| may later develop Munchausen syndrome as | | | | Psychotherapy generally focuses on changing the |
| adults. Most symptoms are physical complaints, | | | | thinking and behavior of the individual with the |
| whereas feigning of mental symptoms occurs to | | | | disorder (cognitive-behavioral therapy). The goal of |
| a lesser extent. Physical presentations include | | | | therapy for MSP is to help the person identify the |
| vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory arrest, asthma, | | | | thoughts and feelings that are contributing to the |
| seizure, recurrent conjunctivitis, clumsiness, | | | | behavior, and to learn to form relationships that |
| syncope, fever, infection, bleeding, failure to | | | | are not associated with being ill. |
| thrive, or electrolytic disturbance. | | | | |