Citation

Günter M. Med. Law 1998; 17(3): 359-379.

Affiliation

Tubingen University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, International Centre of Medicine and Law)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9922627

Abstract

When dealing with Munchausen syndrome by proxy as well as with false allegations of sexual abuse, we normally were confronted with complex family dynamics especially between mother and child. To date there are no scientific discussions on the importance of these dynamics for the development of manifest symptoms in the child and regarding the child's contribution. The descriptions of the Munchausen syndrome by proxy stressed the maternal pathology from which the child's symptoms seemed to be derivable by the concept of simple induction. Regarding false allegations of sexual abuse, especially in divorce proceedings, even publications on the motives of the inducing parents were rare. This paper presents considerations on the object relation dynamics as well as on the intrapsychic dynamics of the children and adolescents in question. Related forensic psychiatric problems are discussed.

Language: en