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Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy: AReal Attention Grabber

They appear to be the loving, caring mothers of very sick children. They are relentless in their efforts to help doctors find cures for the mysterious diseases that plague their children. They are women who suffer from Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy (MSBP).

What is Munchousen Syndrome By Proxy?

Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy

Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy is a psychological disorder that is found almost exclusively in women. These woman, who are either the parent, or care giver claim that the children in their care suffer from various illnesses. Some go so far as to actually make the child sick to support their claims. This is done so that they themselves can receive the attention and notoriety that they feel they will get as the parent of a seriously ill child.

Because most victims of MSBP are infants or toddlers, and cannot speak for themselves, the doctors presented with these cases must rely on the mother`s deceitful description of the symptoms when searching for a cause or cure. Quite often this means that the young victim will undergo a horrendous amount of testing, as well as suffering through unnecessary surgeries. In most cases the testing and surgery is in vain, because there were no real symptoms to begin with.

What causes MSBP?

Although there is no known cause of MSBP, it is believed that things like marital stress, being neglected or abused as a child or even losing a parent when they were young can be all triggers. Studies also show that many perpetrators may also suffer from Munchausen Syndrome themselves. This is a related condition where the patients continually fake their own illnesses in order to receive medical treatment.

Is There A Cure For MSBP?

Psychotherapy is used in order to try to change the patients way of thinking, but generally speaking there is no cure for this disease, because the perpetrators refuse to admit that there is any kind of wrong doing on their part. They become so caught up in their own web of lies that they are often unable to differentiate between the truth and a lie. They simply see themselves as the parent of a very sick child, and instead blame the medical professionals for not having found a cure for the child`s factitious disease.

Diagnosing MSBP

MSBP is very hard to diagnose because it is based purely on lies. If no medical problems can be found, the doctors must rely on an in depth investigation of the child`s medical history. The medical history of siblings and parents must also be investigated and assessed. Although this process is critical to the welfare of the child, it is often neglected due to time restraints, and results in an improper diagnosis. This allows the child to be subjected to more unnecessary abuse at the hands of the one person that claims to love them the most.

Signs of Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy

  • The child is repeatedly brought to emergency room with strange or unheard of symptoms. .
  • Symptoms most often disappear shortly after arrival to a medical facility and reappear when patient returns home. .
  • The perpetrator may have some kind of medical background
  • The perpetrator often seems overly helpful and overly co-operative with health care providers
  • Chemicals show up in the child`s lab tests

Note: Not all MSBP cases involve children. Several cases have been reported where the perpetrator is the adult child of a sick or elderly parent.

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Comments (14)
#1 by Darlene McFarlane, Feb 27, 2008

It's hard to believe that an illness this strange really exists, no wonder they have such a hard time diagnosing it.

You did a great job describing the disease and it's symptoms.
#2 by valli, Feb 27, 2008
This is a new one to me. Thank you very much for the information.
#3 by IcyCucky, Feb 27, 2008
Great article, Lanne..
#4 by Dee Huff, Feb 27, 2008
I've heard of Munchhausen before. It's such a sad bad thing, especially for the victims, who are usually helpless and completely dependent on the person suffering from the syndrome.
#5 by R.B. Parsley, Feb 27, 2008
I have read several articles on this disease, and its always amazed me that once its discovered, why those involved have not been brought to justice. I feel this is nothing more than flat out abuse of the victims it involves. Great article Lanne.
Randy
#6 by Lucy Lockett, Feb 28, 2008
Great article and interesting indeed!
#7 by Alexa Gates, Feb 29, 2008
wow... I feel soo bad for those parents children....
#8 by Judy Sheldon, Feb 29, 2008
I have heard of this, and you did an excellent job describing it.
#9 by lanne, Feb 29, 2008
Thank you everyone for your comments. I had a bit of a hard time with this one. It is hard to believe that a parent could subject a child to things like this,so the more I read on it; the more angry I got.But people have to know.
#10 by tizzy, Mar 23, 2008
I know of someone who appears to have this condition. He is a single father and thrives on the attention that he receives through his children. He would NEVER admit to having a problem. He pumps the children full of over the counter medicine, takes them to the er regularly and then tells everone how bad the child was but is better now. The children are old enough to talk but scared to say a word for fear of his wrath. How does one help the children? This isn't something easy to prove like a bruise or hand print.
#11 by Brian, May 15, 2008
This sucks! My wife and I have a child with a rare disorder and now the CAS is blaming my wife saying that she has this disorder. There are people who have kids with rare disorders who don't have this illness but the doctors or authorities use it as an easy way out! Shame on you! Ever seen the movie Lorenzo's oil? Maybe you people should watch it and open your eyes. How would you feel if the authorties took away your kids with no proof? The authorities put loving parents like us through hell!
#12 by lanne, May 16, 2008
I apologize to my regular readers for the language in the last comment. I was ANGRY!!!
#13 by Jane, Sep 30, 2008
It's incredible the ways this disorder shows itself....Presently, I know a mother that is causing her 20 month old son (beginning at birth)to be retarded....not just a learning disability or ADHD. This is done with vitamin manipulation for the first 3 months of live. Symptoms mimic sever colic; so nothing is done. Then she destroys the nervous system by consistently applying ice cold internally & externally. Oh yes, there is the little issue of sleep for this body in it's most extreme growth stage....she is forcing lack of security (no night light....screaming himself to sleep) therefore poor sleep habits are now evident. When his little body just gives in & sleeps, she puts him in bed which brings the screaming & fear.
But, oh yes, in public, she is the best, most nurturing mother on the planet. As is so common in abuse situations, he clings to her, supporting her ability to give to him when anyone is present.
I don't get it.....God gave these very desiring parents (ages 31 & 33) the love of their lives for this baby to be the manipulation that brings her great esteem (what a wonderful mother you are)....
Proof otherwise.....no existent.
#14 by CINDI, Jun 7, 2009
DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A NAME OF A DISEASE THAT THE PERSON IS CONSTANTLY HAVING BABIES OR OPERATONS THAT IS NOT NEEDED. THE LATEST IS A HYSTERECTOMY THAT IS NOT NEEDED. BREAST BIOPSIES NOT NEEDED BUT DEMANDED SHE NEEDED ONE. BY THE TIME SHE WAS 29 SHE HAD BEEN PREGNANT 6 OR 7 TIMES. THE LAST ONE SHE DEMANDED FROM HER DR. SHE WANTED TO HAVE THE BABY ON HER GRANDS B-DAY. SHE INSISTED SHE NEEDED TO HAVE THIS CHILD SHE WAS HURTING, THEN BRAGGED ABOUT THE FACT, SHE ONLY DID IT TO HAVE THE BABY ON A CERTAIN DAY.,,,,, TWO OF HER CHILDREN ARE CONSTANTLY SICK BUT THE DR CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM. SHE ALSO HAS STARTED GETTING TATOOS,,,,,, HER COUSIN IS A PHARMACIST AND SHE HOOKED UP THE TATOO GUY WITH THE COUSIN FOR FREE DRUGS EXCHANGED FOR TATOOS. SHE IS A SHOP AHOLIC . GOTTEN TO PLACE HER HUSBAND HAD TO PUT A FREEZE ON HIS CREDIT SHE WAS TAKEN OUT CREDIT CARD ACCTS IN HIS NAME AND MAXING THEM OUT AND NOT PAYING FOR THEM. SHE ALSO TRICKS PEOPLE INTO BELEIVING SHE IS THE BEST MOM IN WORLD AND DOES NOT FEED THEM THEY GET THEIR OWN FOOD. THE DAD MAkes sure there is food there . she needsa help and the family doesnt know what to do,,,,,,
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