Citation

Schreier HA. Child Abuse Negl. 1996; 20(10): 985-991.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Oakland, CA 94609, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8902286

Abstract

Munchausen by proxy syndrome, wherein a caretaker (most often a mother) simulates or fabricates illness in a child in order to assume the sick role through another has now been described involving a variety of psychiatric problems and false allegations of sexual abuse. Given that a proposed dynamic appears to be a need in a dependent and/or hostile relationship with powerful transferential people from the past, it was expected that professionals (school psychologists, social workers, lawyers) other than doctors would be involved. A case involving law enforcement agents as a primary "target" is described and its significance discussed.

Language: en