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Factitious seizures, often induced by a mother, led to unnecessary medical interventions for children and adults. This behavior may persist into adulthood and, in severe cases, cause brain damage or death, with links to sudden infant death syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Neurology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA) involves fabricating or inducing illness in another person.
- This can lead to significant medical harm and psychological distress for the victim.
- The condition is often perpetrated by a caregiver, frequently the mother.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presentation and consequences of factitious seizures in pediatric patients.
- To highlight the diagnostic challenges and iatrogenic harm associated with FDIA.
- To explore the long-term implications and potential mortality risks of factitious seizures.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case review of 32 children and 4 adults diagnosed with factitious seizures.
- Detailed clinical investigation, including neurological examinations and diagnostic tests.
- Longitudinal follow-up to assess the persistence of illness behavior.
Main Results:
- Patients underwent extensive investigations and treatments for epilepsy due to fabricated or induced seizures.
- Unnecessary hospital admissions and restrictions in education and activities were common.
- Follow-up indicated a risk of persistent abnormal illness behavior into adulthood.
- A subset of young children experienced anoxic episodes induced by parents, leading to brain damage and death.
- Emerging evidence suggests an association with sudden unexplained death in infancy (cot death).
Conclusions:
- Factitious seizures represent a form of child abuse with severe consequences.
- Early identification and intervention are crucial to prevent long-term harm and mortality.
- The association with sudden infant death syndrome warrants further investigation.
Abstract:
32 children and 4 adults had extensive investigation and treatment for epilepsy because of false seizures invented or induced by a relative, usually the mother. They also suffered needless hospital admissions and restriction of education and activities. Follow-up of the children suggests a danger of abnormal illness behaviour continuing into adult life. For a few young children seizures are really anoxic episodes caused by the parent. In some cases these lead to brain damage and death, and an important association with sudden unexplained death of infancy (cot death) is emerging.