Munchausen Syndrome Proxy

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP)

Munchausen by Proxy (MBP) - also known as Factitious Disorder by Proxy, Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome, and Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy - is a very real and very dangerous form of maltreatment (abuse/neglect). Munchausen's Syndrome refers to a psychiatric disorder where patients pretend to have illnesses, and therefore are subjected to many medical tests and surgical procedures.

In "MUNCHAUSEN SYNDROME BY PROXY" (MSBP), an individual makes another person sick in order to accrue the same gains--but this time vicariously. This is a form of abuse in which children are the usual victims.

Munchausen Syndrome, a disorder where people fabricate illness in themselves, and Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome were named after an 18 th -century German dignitary named Baron von Munchausen. Baron von Munchausen was known for telling "outlandish stories," ("Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome," n.d., p. 1). The name was first used in 1951 by Dr. Richard Asher to describe self-induced illness.

Munchausen by proxy syndrome (MBPS) is one of the most harmful forms of child abuse. It is also perplexing. MBPS involves an apparent deeply caring mother who repeatedly fabricates symptoms or provokes actual illnesses in her helpless infant or child.

Treatment of Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome

Knowledge of how to treat Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome is limited. Feldman relays about mothers with MBPS that "virtually all have personality disorders that lead them to behave in odd and even destructive ways, especially when they feel under stress," (1998, p. 1). It is even more important, then, for these mothers to undergo extensive psychotherapy. In most cases, the mother is fully aware of her behavior but reluctant to openly acknowledge it.

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