A Closer Look into Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome and Its Effect on Childhood Development

A Closer Look into Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome and its Effect on Childhood Development

Latoya Kinard

Claflin University

Business Research II

Dr. B. Wider

March 4, 2017

Index

                                                                        Page

Introduction                                                                3

History                                                                4

Prevalence                                                                4

Overview of MBP                                                        5

Theories                                                                5

Symptoms                                                                6

Impact on the Child                                                        7

Diagnosis                                                                8

Treatment & Recommendations                                         9

References                                                                11                                                        

Introduction

Child abuse takes on different forms, but an unusual type of medical abuse is making its way into the mainstream of advocacy and media. Child medical abuse, also known as Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome (MPB) is a form of child abuse in which a caretaker, usually a mother, fabricates and /or induces illness in a child or proxy for the purpose of obtaining an emotional or psychological benefit (Day & Moseley, 2010). The child is given unneeded medical attention/medicine that is harmful to their emotional, physical, and psychological growth as a child. This disorder is difficult to diagnose, prove, and can possibly lead to the death of an innocent child. The definition of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy is reviewed and considered in the context of the overlap with other harmful behaviors of parents. The high incidence of personal abnormal illness behavior in the perpetrators is leading to increasing concern about the safety of children who are cared for by parents who have abnormal illness behavior Meadow, R. (2002).  

In every child/parent relationship viewed from the outside in, it’s easy to make assumptions about the persons parenting skills.  There can be a thin line between love and abuse. However, all parents want to the best for their children but can sometimes cause a mental disorder within them.  Within this paper we’ll discuss the impact that Child Medical Abuse also known as MPB has on children, the symptoms, diagnosis, treatments and recommendations.  

That leads me to ask the question: What is the impact on the child that suffers from MPB?

History

Baron Karl Friederich von Munchausen was a famous enthusiastic raconteur who told of extraordinary tales about his life as a soldier and hunter (Murray, 1997). These “tall tales” and exaggerations were about his adventures and his own personal life experiences. Dr. Richard Asher used it to describe adult patients who seemed addicted to hospitals and induced illness in themselves to gain hospital admission (Murray, 1997). These patients traveled from physician to physician, hospital to hospital, fabricating stories of ill health like the German soldier, Munchausen. It was then in 1977 where Sir Roy Meadow devised this disorder and described Munchausen by Proxy as an act of child abuse. According to Langer, there are four key elements of MSBP commonly referred to in the child abuse centered literature; notably these focus on the impact of the conduct on the child. First, the child’s illness is simulated or produced by the parent, usually the mother, or someone in the caregiver role (Langer, 2009). Secondly, she notes that the child is repeatedly brought forward for medical evaluation and treatment. Then she states that the perpetrator denies any knowledge of the cause of the illness. Lastly, Langer notes that when the child and the perpetrator are separated, the medical issues cease.