Factitious disorders by proxy: A trap for the unwary

Abstract

S u m m a r y This paper reviews the literature on Factitious Disorders by fioxy; one of the most insidious forms of chiM abuse known to practitioners. It provides a description of the disorder and its place relative to other similar disorders. The epidemiology and course of the disorder are examined and the symptoms by which it may be recognised are identzjied. A case study illustrates the main features of this disorder and demonstrates how easy it is for practitioners to be misled by the abuser. Finally, the paper examines the prospect for successful intervention and details the criteria that are associated with success.

Assessment issues in working with mothers who induce illness in their children

“…More recently Glaser & Prior (1997) looking at the emotional damage done to children describes their condition as one of Factitious Illness. The 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual published in 1994 by the American Psychiatric Association describes the condition whereby symptoms in children are`fabricated voluntarily but motivated unconsciously' by their carer as Factitious Disorder by Proxy (FDBP) (Randall & Parker 1997). For the purposes of this paper I will use the terms MSBP and induced illness interchangeably.…”

“…It is of course not the task of the social worker alone to make these decisions, but the social worker's longerterm knowledge of the mother and the family compared to`expert opinion' based on what may be one or two intensive interviews has an important contribution to make to the decision-making process. Randall & Parker (1997) also point out the importance of the social worker in the assessment of risk and subsequent decision making in these cases (p. 23).…”