NCJ Number
194958
Journal
Child Maltreatment Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2002 Pages: 112-124
Date Published
2002
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article proposes guidelines for the forensic evaluation of illness falsification, Munchausen by Proxy (MBP), and factitious disorder, NOS in cases of child abuse and for formulating recommendations.
Abstract
Forensic evaluations are used in the court system to provide information to aid in the formation of legal decisions. This article presented guidelines for forensic evaluations for possible Munchausen by Proxy (MBP) child abuse for the court systems. MBP is a form of child abuse where an adult falsifies physical and/or psychological signs and/or symptoms causing the victim to be seen as ill or impaired. In order to provide an accurate assessment, evaluators should be allowed to review all pertinent information, evaluators should be able to review all available medical records, as well as other records, and a psychological assessment of the suspected parent should be required. Guidelines are presented for gathering data, analyzing records, and evaluating psychological testing. When treating surviving victims of MBP who have suffered fear, pain, loss of normal attachment, development, growth, social interaction, and academic experiences, several recommendations are presented and deemed as appropriate interventions: (1) a team treatment approach with open and continual communication; (2) placement of child following an abuse report; (3) assess the risk of MBP behaviors to the child; (4) the need for strict guidelines regarding visitation with MBP parents; (5) the parents be required to engage in a medical monitoring plan; (6) attempts to normalize the child’s academic life; (7) training mental health professionals in psychotherapy for the handling of victims of MBP; (8) psychotherapy for the abuser and spouse; (9) reunification of abusers and victims of MBP over a period of time; and (10) long-term social services follow-up. References