Particularities of Münchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Abstract

This article contributes to a wider understanding of the Münchausen syndrome by proxy, which is a form of child abuse, very complex and destructive, difficult to diagnose and individualized. The abuser, most often the mother induce the symptom to the child, for which he addresses and requires the intervention of a specialist. Thus, the victim is subject to medical treatments, often invasive and very painful but unnecessary. The complexity of this type of abuse also consist in the difficulty of an early diagnosis as well as in the anticipated perception of the risk of Münchausen victimization. The paper aims to inform those who are directly or indirectly in contact with problems related to this syndrome.