Who is affected by Munchausen syndrome by proxy

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Who is affected by Munchausen syndrome by proxy

The true incidence of Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) is unknown. In the United States, it is estimated that nearly 3 children out of every 100,000 who are age 1 year or younger are victimized by a caregiver who has MSBP.¹ This estimated incidence decreases to less than 1 child in every 100,000 when the age range extends to all children age 16 years and younger.¹ Victims of MSBP are estimated to account for fewer than 1 of every 3,000 reported cases of child abuse in the United States. The number of male and female victims are about equal.

Children subjected to MSBP are most often younger than 6 years old. However, MSBP has also involved older children, including teens. Older children and teens subjected to this syndrome may cooperate with the offending caregiver; for example, they may tell health professionals what the caregiver has told them to say, or they may truly believe they have an illness.

Often several children in one family will be victims of MSBP, although usually the caregiver with MSBP abuses only one child at a time.

The long-term effects on victims of MSBP vary depending on the severity of abuse and the treatment. Some children die from the abuse, although the exact number is difficult to determine.

References

Citations

1. Leamon MH, et al. (2003). Factitious disorder by proxy section of Factitious disorders and malingering. In RE Hales, SC Yudofsky, eds., Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry, 4th ed., ch. 14. pp. 697–700. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.

Credits

Last updated:	July 27, 2007
Author:	Jeannette Curtis
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC