Citation

Hoffman JS, Koocher GP. J. Clin. Psychol. Med. Settings 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Chestnut Hill, USA. koocher@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10880-019-09666-8

PMID

31602528

Abstract

Medical child abuse, sometimes referred to as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy or childhood factitious disorder, poses significant diagnostic, intervention, and ethical issues for medical and mental health practitioners alike. Psychologists working in pediatric hospitals and medical clinics should remain mindful of the health and ethical risks posed by these conditions, which are challenging to detect and treat. The surreptitious nature of the conditions and hazards they pose require an integrated medical, psychological, and child protective response. This article provides historical and clinical background on the condition along with tabular guides and recommendations to assist in detection and intervention.

Language: en

Keywords

Ethics; Factitious disorder; Medical child abuse; Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy; Pediatric psychology