1. Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy
MSBP is a rare behavioral disorderthataffectsacaretakeror guardianusuallythe mother.The
patientgetsattentionbylookingformedical helpforexaggeratedormade upsymptomsof a person
usuallyachildintheircare. It wasoriginallycoinedinphrase byRoyMeadows. While doctorstryto find
the cause of the symptomsthe caretakersactionspurposelyaffectthe symptomsoftenworsening
them.Meanwhile the doctorsneversuspectthe caretakerasthe cause of the illness.The caretaker
actuallytendstoappearloving,caring,andextremelyupsetoverthe childorpersontheyare takingcare
of’sillness.Thereare manywaysthe caretakercan exaggerate symptomsbylying,alteringtests,
falsifyingmedicalrecords,orbyactuallyinducingsymptomsthroughmanywayslike poisoning,
smothering,starving,andinducinginfection.
There are commoncharacteristicsinpeople withMSBPforinstance it’saparentor caregiver,
usuallythe mother,theycouldbe ahealthcare professional,theyare friendlyandcooperate withhealth
care professionals,seemtobe veryconcernedaboutthe child.TheymaysufferfromMunchausen
Syndrome whichisa disordersimilartoMSBP where the patientactsas if theyare physicallyormentally
ill repetitivelywhentheyaren’tevensick.There are otherpossiblewarningsignsof MSBP,asin,the
childhavinga historyof multiple hospitalizationsusuallywithstrange setof symptoms, worseningof
symptomsbeingnoticedgenerallybythe caretakerand notstaff,the conditionandsymptomsreported
usuallydon’tmatchtestresults,multiple strange illnessesordeathsof childreninthe family,condition
improvinginhospital butrecuronce home,bloodinlabsamplesdon’tmatchchild’sblood,orthere
beingsignsof chemicalsinthe child’sblood.
There aren’tany reliable statisticsforthe amountof people inthe UnitedStatesthatsufferfrom
MSBP, and there’sdifficultyassessingthe commonnessof the disordersince somanycasesgo

2. undiagnosed. Diagnosingthe disorderisdifficultbecauseof the level of dishonestythatisinvolved.
Healthprofessionalshave torule outanypossibilityof physical illnessascausingthe child’sillness
before theycangive the diagnosisof MSBP.If a physical cause cannotbe foundtheythendoa thorough
reviewof medical history,aswell asreviewingof the familyhistorymaygive cluessuggestingMSBP.
Please keepoinmindit’sthe adultandnotthe childthatgets diagnosedwithMunchausenSyndrome By
Proxy.
The primaryconcern isto make sure the childissafe andprotected,the childmayhave to be
placedinanotherhome.Inorderto manage a case withMSBP you oftenneedateamincludingsocial
workers,fostercare organizations,lawenforcement,anddoctors.It’sdifficulttosuccessfullytreatthose
whosufferfromMSBP because the suffereroftensaythere isn’taproblem.Besidesthe factthatfor
treatmenttobe successful the personhastobe truthful.Whichis unlikelyseeingashow theytendtobe
accomplishedliarsandthe startto have problemstellingfactfromfiction.Psychotherapyusually
focusesonattemptingtochange the thinkingandbehaviorof the one withMSBP.The goal of
psychotherapyistohelpidentifythe contributingthoughtsandfeelings,andlearnhow toform
relationshipsthathave nothingtodowithbeingsick.
MSBP can leadto seriouslongandshortterm problemslike continuedabuse,many
hospitalizations,andpossiblydeath,withresearchsuggestingthe deathrate isabout10%. Sometimesa
childof MSBP learnshowto relate attentiontobeingsickanddevelopsMunchausenSyndrome
themselves.MSBPishardto treat and usuallyneedsyearsof supportandtherapy. MSBP isalso
consideredaformof child abuse and isa criminal offense,withnoformof preventionavailable.
Anotherinterestingpiece of informationIfoundwasthatMunchausenSyndrome andMSBP
were namedaftera Germancavalry officerBaronKarl FriedrichvonMunchausenof the 18th
century.He
was widelytraveledandwell knownforhisdramaticyetuntruthful storieslike the oneshe toldabout
ridinga cannonball tothe moon.Theylatercreatedmoviesandbooksbasedoff of these tale tellshe

3. likedtotell.All inall Ithinkif youwantto get inthe medical field MSBPissomethingyoushouldbe
educated about,MSBPdoesnot decriminate.