In Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSP), a caregiver, usually a mother, makes up or causes symptoms of illness or injury in a child or dependent individual. As well as being known as factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA), MSP is a form of mental health disorder that occurs when caregivers do this for attention, sympathy, or control.
There is no known cause of MSP, but psychological factors may contribute to it, such as:
Self-esteem is low
Abuse or neglect history
Disorders of the personality
Unmet care or attention needs
A desire to be viewed as a hero or martyr
A caregiver may experience the following symptoms depending on the type and severity of abuse:
Exaggerate or lie about the victim's symptoms
Medication or medical tests are tampered with
Poison, starve, infect, or injure the victim in order to induce symptoms
The victim is subjected to unnecessary or harmful medical treatments or procedures
Prevent the victim from recovering or getting better
Become overly concerned or devoted to the victim
Make sure the victim is not left alone or allowed to be cared for by others
Experience or knowledge of medicine
Family history of similar cases or deaths
Victims may:
Chronic or frequent illnesses or injuries that do not respond to treatment
Symptoms that occur only in the presence of the caregiver
Test results or diagnosis do not match your symptoms
Symptoms or diagnoses from different doctors or hospitals are different or conflicting
Treatments or procedures have complications or side effects
Physically or emotionally abused or neglected
It is difficult to diagnose MSP because the caregiver is usually very good at deceiving others and manipulating the situation. The diagnosis is based on the following factors:
Victim and caregiver clinical signs and symptoms
Medical history and records of the victim and caregiver
Medical and mental health professionals observe and evaluate the victim and caregiver
Excluding other possible causes of the victim's condition
MSP is treated by:
Removing the victim from the caregiver's care or supervision to protect them from further harm
Helping the victim heal and recover through medical and psychological care
Cooperating with the legal process and reporting the case to the authorities
Counseling and therapy for caregivers to help them understand and change their behaviors
Supervising the caregiver's interactions with the victim or other dependents
Despite the fact that there is no sure way to prevent MSP, some possible measures include:
Educating the public and medical professionals about MSP's symptoms and risks
Seeking help for caregivers' own mental health issues or stressors
Providing social and emotional support to caregivers and victims
Any suspected cases of MSP should be reported to the appropriate agencies or authorities
