Problemi speciali
La sindrome di Münchausen by proxy
MÜNCHAUSEN SYNDROME BY PROXY
Zemira Cannioto1, Federico Marchetti1, Eva Da Dalt1, Sandra Brusa2, Alessandro Ventura1
1Clinica Pediatrica, IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Università di Trieste
2Reparto di Pediatria, Ospedale S. Maria della Scaletta, Imola (Bologna)
Maggio 2009 - pagg. 309 -318
Abstract
Münchausen by proxy syndrome (MBPs) is a form of child abuse in which a parent (especially
the mother) fabricates or directly produces illness in a dependent child. It represents
an insidious type of child abuse that occurs in a medical setting. An active interaction
between the caregiver-perpetrator and the medical professional is required for the syndrome
to occur. Throughout the description of few cases we especially want to underline
the factors that could help physicians in recognizing this syndrome and also the medical
attitudes that could allow for the development of this insidious type of child abuse.
Classificazione MeSH
Bibliografia
Abuse and Neglect. Beyond Münchausen
Syndrome by Proxy: Identification and Treatment
of Child Abuse in a Medical Setting. Pediatrics
2007;119:1026-30.
2. Schreier H. Münchausen by Proxy Defined. Pediatrics 2002;110:985-8.
3. McClure RJ, Davis PM, Meadow SR, Sibert JR. Epidemiology of Münchausen syndrome by proxy, non-accidental poisoning, and nonaccidental suffocation. Arch Dis Child 1996; 75:57-61.
4. Rosemberg D. Web of deceit: a literature review of Münchausen syndrome by proxy. Child Abuse Negl 1987;11:547-63.
5. Schreier H, Libow J. Hurting for love: Münchausen by proxy syndrome. New York, NY: Guilford Press, 1993.
6. Asher R. Münchausen’s syndrome. Lancet 1951;1:339-41.
7. Meadow R. Münchausen syndrome by proxy - the hinterland of child abuse. Lancet 1977;2:343-5.
8. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Text Rev. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000:513.
9. Meadow R. What is and what is not Münchausen syndrome by proxy? Arch Dis Child 1995;72:534-8.
10. Ayoub C, Alexander R, Beck D, et al. Definitional issues in Münchausen by proxy. Child Maltreatment 2002;7:105-11.
11. Eminson DM, Postlethwaite RJ. Factitious illness: recognition and management. Arch Dis Child 1992;67:1510-6.
12. Feldman KW, Hickman RO. The central venous catheter as a source of medical chaos in Münchausen syndrome by proxy. J Pediatr Surg 1998;33:623-7.
13. Bryk M, Siegel PT. My mother caused my illness: the story of a survivor of Münchausen by proxy syndrome. Pediatrics 1997;100:1-7.
14. de Ridder L, Hoekstra JH. Manifestation of Münchausen syndrome by proxy in pediatric gastroenterology. JPGN 2000;31:208-11.
15. Kosmach B, Tarbell S, Reyes J, Todo S. Münchausen by proxy syndrome in a small bowel transplant recipient. Transplant Proc 1996;28:2790-1.
16. Meadow R. Unnatural sudden infant death. Arch Dis Child 1999;80:7-14.
17. Truman TL, Ayoub C. Considering suffocatory abuse and Münchausen by proxy in the evaluation of children experiencing apparent life threatening events and SIDS. Child Maltreatment 2002;7:138-48.
18. McGuire TL, Feldman K. Psychology morbidity of children subjected to Münchausen syndrome by proxy. Pediatrics 1989;83:289-92.
19. Meadow R. Münchausen syndrome by proxy abuse perpetrated by men. Arch Dis Child 1998;78:210-6.
20. Makar AF, Squier PJ. Münchausen syndrome by proxy: father as perpetrator. Pediatrics 1990;85:370-3.
21. Libow J, Schreirer HA. Three forms of factitious illness in children: when is it Münchausen by proxy syndrome? Am J Orthopsychiatry 1986;56:602-11.
22. Alexander R, Smith W, Stevenson R. Serial Münchausen by proxy. Pediatrics 1990;86:581-5.
23. Bools CN, Neale B, Meadow SR. Followup of victims of fabricated illness (MSBP). Arch Dis Child 1993;69:625-30.
24. Bools C, Neale B, Meadow S. Co-morbidity associated with fabricated illness (Münchausen syndrome by proxy). Arch Dis Child 1992;67:77-9.
25. Meadow R. Suffocation, recurrent apnea, and sudden infant death. J Pediatr 1990;117: 351-6.
26. Meadow R. Fictitious epilepsy. Lancet 1984;2:25-8.
27. Schreier H. On the importance of motivation in Münchausen by proxy: the case of Kathy Bush. Child Abuse & Neglect 2002;26: 537-49.
28. Jureidini JN, Shaker AT, Donald TG. “Münchausen by proxy syndrome”: not only pathological parenting but also problematic doctoring? MJA 2003;178:130-2.
29. Marinelli I. Può esistere una sindrome di Münchausen by doctors? O si tratta di una provocazione? Quaderni acp 2008;15:213-5.
30. Guida di riferimento per ritenere sospetto e identificare un quadro di Münchausen by Proxy: www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/ ill/munchausen.html.
31. Hall DE, Eubanks L, Meyyazhagan S, Kenney RD, Johnson SC. Evaluation of covert video surveillance in the diagnosis of Münchausen syndrome by proxy: lessons from 41 cases. Pediatrics 2000;105:1305-12.
2. Schreier H. Münchausen by Proxy Defined. Pediatrics 2002;110:985-8.
3. McClure RJ, Davis PM, Meadow SR, Sibert JR. Epidemiology of Münchausen syndrome by proxy, non-accidental poisoning, and nonaccidental suffocation. Arch Dis Child 1996; 75:57-61.
4. Rosemberg D. Web of deceit: a literature review of Münchausen syndrome by proxy. Child Abuse Negl 1987;11:547-63.
5. Schreier H, Libow J. Hurting for love: Münchausen by proxy syndrome. New York, NY: Guilford Press, 1993.
6. Asher R. Münchausen’s syndrome. Lancet 1951;1:339-41.
7. Meadow R. Münchausen syndrome by proxy - the hinterland of child abuse. Lancet 1977;2:343-5.
8. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Text Rev. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000:513.
9. Meadow R. What is and what is not Münchausen syndrome by proxy? Arch Dis Child 1995;72:534-8.
10. Ayoub C, Alexander R, Beck D, et al. Definitional issues in Münchausen by proxy. Child Maltreatment 2002;7:105-11.
11. Eminson DM, Postlethwaite RJ. Factitious illness: recognition and management. Arch Dis Child 1992;67:1510-6.
12. Feldman KW, Hickman RO. The central venous catheter as a source of medical chaos in Münchausen syndrome by proxy. J Pediatr Surg 1998;33:623-7.
13. Bryk M, Siegel PT. My mother caused my illness: the story of a survivor of Münchausen by proxy syndrome. Pediatrics 1997;100:1-7.
14. de Ridder L, Hoekstra JH. Manifestation of Münchausen syndrome by proxy in pediatric gastroenterology. JPGN 2000;31:208-11.
15. Kosmach B, Tarbell S, Reyes J, Todo S. Münchausen by proxy syndrome in a small bowel transplant recipient. Transplant Proc 1996;28:2790-1.
16. Meadow R. Unnatural sudden infant death. Arch Dis Child 1999;80:7-14.
17. Truman TL, Ayoub C. Considering suffocatory abuse and Münchausen by proxy in the evaluation of children experiencing apparent life threatening events and SIDS. Child Maltreatment 2002;7:138-48.
18. McGuire TL, Feldman K. Psychology morbidity of children subjected to Münchausen syndrome by proxy. Pediatrics 1989;83:289-92.
19. Meadow R. Münchausen syndrome by proxy abuse perpetrated by men. Arch Dis Child 1998;78:210-6.
20. Makar AF, Squier PJ. Münchausen syndrome by proxy: father as perpetrator. Pediatrics 1990;85:370-3.
21. Libow J, Schreirer HA. Three forms of factitious illness in children: when is it Münchausen by proxy syndrome? Am J Orthopsychiatry 1986;56:602-11.
22. Alexander R, Smith W, Stevenson R. Serial Münchausen by proxy. Pediatrics 1990;86:581-5.
23. Bools CN, Neale B, Meadow SR. Followup of victims of fabricated illness (MSBP). Arch Dis Child 1993;69:625-30.
24. Bools C, Neale B, Meadow S. Co-morbidity associated with fabricated illness (Münchausen syndrome by proxy). Arch Dis Child 1992;67:77-9.
25. Meadow R. Suffocation, recurrent apnea, and sudden infant death. J Pediatr 1990;117: 351-6.
26. Meadow R. Fictitious epilepsy. Lancet 1984;2:25-8.
27. Schreier H. On the importance of motivation in Münchausen by proxy: the case of Kathy Bush. Child Abuse & Neglect 2002;26: 537-49.
28. Jureidini JN, Shaker AT, Donald TG. “Münchausen by proxy syndrome”: not only pathological parenting but also problematic doctoring? MJA 2003;178:130-2.
29. Marinelli I. Può esistere una sindrome di Münchausen by doctors? O si tratta di una provocazione? Quaderni acp 2008;15:213-5.
30. Guida di riferimento per ritenere sospetto e identificare un quadro di Münchausen by Proxy: www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/ ill/munchausen.html.
31. Hall DE, Eubanks L, Meyyazhagan S, Kenney RD, Johnson SC. Evaluation of covert video surveillance in the diagnosis of Münchausen syndrome by proxy: lessons from 41 cases. Pediatrics 2000;105:1305-12.
Corrispondenza: zemira79@hotmail.com