NCJ Number
137436
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 61 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1992) Pages: 16-20
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Munchausen's Syndrome is a recognized psychiatric disorder, described by the American Psychiatric Association, as the intentional production of physical symptoms.
Abstract
The term "Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy" (MSBP) first appeared in a 1976 report describing four children who were so severely abused that they were dwarfed. MSBP victims are usually children, and the perpetrators are almost always parents or parent substitutes. In recent years, medical personnel at Children's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, and local law enforcement agencies have encountered several MSBP cases, three of which are outlined. Two cases were presented with apnea, a condition where breathing temporarily stops. The third case was presented with recurrent infections masquerading as an immune deficiency. The consensus is that MSBP is notoriously resistant to parental psychotherapy and that approximately 10 percent of MSBP victims die. Police agencies and medical professionals need to be more aware of this form of abuse in order to identify perpetrators and help victims. 8 endnotes