Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Serial Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

R Alexander1, W Smith, R Stevenson

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.

Pediatrics
|October 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The impact of surgical research pipeline programs on underrepresented minority high school and undergraduate students' career development.

American journal of surgery·2025
Same author

An Improved Chemical Extraction Procedure for the Sr Isotope Analysis of Liquid Agrifood Samples Applied to Authenticating the Origin of Maple Syrups in Quebec (Canada).

Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM·2025
Same author

A review of the role of testosterone in the care of the critically ill patient.

The Southern African journal of critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Society·2024
Same author

Maternal propranolol treatment for fetal pleural effusion.

Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·2024
Same author

Adjudicating Mild Cognitive Impairment Due to Alzheimer's Disease as a Novel Endpoint Event in the TOMMORROW Prevention Clinical Trial.

The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease·2022
Same author

A Modular Digital Twinning Framework for Safety Assurance of Collaborative Robotics.

Frontiers in robotics and AI·2022
Same journal

Severe Postoperative Hypernatremia in an Adolescent Following Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Pediatrics·2026
Same journal

Barriers to Implementing SMART for Asthma in Pediatric Primary Care.

Pediatrics·2026
Same journal

Blood Lead Testing Among Children Enrolled in Medicaid.

Pediatrics·2026
Same journal

From Screening to Support: Crafting Social Needs Response Systems That Work for Families.

Pediatrics·2026
Same journal

A Social Care Intervention in Pediatric Practices: A Stepped Wedge Cluster Trial.

Pediatrics·2026
Same journal

Pediatric Cheerleading-Related Head Injuries and the "Double Down" Rule Change.

Pediatrics·2026
See all related articles

Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) involving multiple children often indicates severe maternal psychopathology and can lead to child fatalities. Early identification and intervention are crucial to prevent further harm to children within affected families.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Forensic Psychiatry
  • Pediatric Health

Background:

  • Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) is a form of child abuse where a caregiver fabricates or induces illness in a child.
  • Cases involving multiple child victims are less common but present unique challenges in diagnosis and intervention.

Observation:

  • This study examines five families where multiple children were victims of MSBP.
  • Maternal psychiatric histories, marital instability, and the mothers' own history of Munchausen syndrome were frequently observed.
  • A significant majority (71%) of children within these families were identified as victims.

Findings:

  • Over 31% of the child victims in these cases died as a result of MSBP.
  • The presence of multiple child victims may correlate with more severe maternal psychopathology.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Failure to identify and intervene early in the first case can have devastating consequences for the mother and other children.

    • Implications:

    • Highlights the critical need for heightened awareness among healthcare professionals regarding multiple-child MSBP.
    • Underscores the importance of comprehensive maternal psychiatric evaluation in suspected MSBP cases.
    • Emphasizes the necessity of timely and effective interventions to protect all children within families exhibiting signs of MSBP.