Spectrum of Pretended Disorders: Münchhausen’s Syndrome by proxy - Yes or No?

Overview

The authors deal with the subject of pretended disorders focused on so-called pretended disorders by proxy(Münchhausen’s syndrome by proxy). These disorders hold an important place in abuse of children. In additionto the variant where somatic complaints are pretended, we may encounter also the variant where mental complaintsare pretended by the child. It is always necessary to evaluate the motif of the subject who pretends the child’scomplaints or indicates them. The authors wonder whether the mother’s motivation in the submitted case-historycorresponded to the pathology of Münchhausen’s syndrome by proxy and the economic benefit of the mother isonly a secondary product of this pathology or whether the economic benefit is the primary motif.

Key words:
Münchhausen by proxy, pathological behaviour of the mother, benefit from pretended disease of