Factitious disorder by proxy: awareness among mental health practitioners

Factitious disorder by proxy (FDP) is a form of abuse in which a caregiver surreptitiously simulates or induces illnesses in a person for whom he or she cares. Typically, a mother is the perpetrator and at least one of her children is victimized. FDP has a high morbidity and mortality rate, and a knowledgeable health team increases the primary physician's confidence in making this difficult diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of awareness of FDP among mental health practitioners and their sources of information. Anonymous questionnaires were sent to 687 primary care physicians and mental health practitioners. Psychiatrists (89%) and psychologists (69%) were more aware of the disorder than were social workers (42%). Years in practice were not associated with awareness of FDP. Psychiatrists were more likely than psychologists or social workers to have had exposure through an actual case or through their professional journals. These findings were statistically significant. Awareness of FDP varies significantly among mental health professionals and may reflect the availability of information during training and in journals. Since social workers and psychologists often have earlier and broader opportunities than psychiatrists to interface with families, enhancements in training and the professional literature in these disciplines are needed if FDP is to be consistently considered and identified.