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Factitious illness in children: the social worker's role in identification and management
1Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, CO 80206.
Insights
Factitious illness in children, including Munchausen by proxy syndrome, harms children. Social work intervention is crucial for identifying and managing this disorder effectively.
Area of Science:
- Child psychology
- Pediatric medicine
- Social work
Background:
- Factitious illness in children poses significant risks.
- Munchausen by proxy syndrome involves a caregiver fabricating illness in a child.
- This disorder can lead to severe adverse outcomes for the child.
Abstract:
Factitious illness in children is a phenomenon that results in adverse consequences for the child. Munchausen by proxy is a factitious disorder, first described by Meadow (1977), in which a parent induces or creates the appearance of illness in the child. This article highlights the importance of social work skills in the identification and management of this syndrome, and proposes a format for decision making at various points in the process.