Factitious Disorder Imposed by Another (Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy)

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms of Factitious Disorder Imposed on AnotherCausesTypes of Factitious DisorderDiagnosisTreating Factitious DisorderCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms of Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another

Causes

Types of Factitious Disorder

Diagnosis

Treating Factitious Disorder

Coping

Factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA) is a mental health disorder in which a caregiver, routinely makes up fake symptoms or causes real symptoms in a child, elderly person, disabled person, or even a pet, to make it appear that the victim has a true physical or mental health issue.

Although FDIA is rare, the mortality rate is concerning. Between 6% to 10% of all FDIA cases will result in death, which makes it a very lethalform of abuse, regardless of the age of the victim.

Read on to learn more about this rare disorder. This article will explore the different types, symptoms, causes, and treatments of factitious disorder,

Important Facts and Examples of Child Abuse Cases

Although the signs and symptoms of FDIA may be most clearly visible in the victim of the abuse, it is the perpetrator who receives the diagnosis of FDIA. The abuser may also fake illness in themselves. It’s important that the doctor take note of the signs and symptoms in both parties and follow up on any concerns.

The caregiver is highly manipulative, using deception to convince others that someone they are caring for is sick. They are aware that they are lying about symptoms or intentionally making someone else sick but are often not consciously aware ofwhythey are doing it.

In the caregiver, it’s important to look for the following signs:

In addition, a caregiver will often ask for a second opinion, further interventions, and additional procedures. Often present in the caregiver are poor relationships with family and/or an absence of relationships with friends or other social networks.

The warning signs in a child or adult victim might include:

In FDIA, “another” can be a child of the caregiver, or it can be another adult or pet that the perpetrator is caring for. It is most commonly diagnosed in mothers. FDIS, on the other hand, is when a person presents themself as sick to others, especially to health care professionals to receive medical attention.

What Is Munchausen Syndrome (Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self)?

Exaggeration: This may involve exaggerating symptoms of real illness to gain more medical attention, testing, and procedures.

Fabrication: This is outright lying about medical history and symptoms, including the suggestion of neurological symptoms such as blackouts, seizures, and paralysis, or creating a false narrative about serious medical problems, like cancer and HIV.

A person with FDIA will misrepresent the adult victim or child’s history and symptoms, eventually leading to over-treatment and unnecessary medical procedures.

To meet a clinical diagnosis for FDIA, the following four criteria must be met:

In the event that a parent/caregiver is willing to get help, and they are not being investigated for abuse, the attending primary care physician should refer out to individual or family therapy.The doctor and mental health experts should work together on a treatment plan for the family.

The perpetrator or offending parent may face criminal charges related to the abuse. Treatment for the caregiver/perpetrator will depend on legal issues surrounding the case and other psychiatric conditions.

Understanding the Effects of Childhood Trauma

Mental health professionalsspecializing in the treatment of FDIA are often called upon to treat the individual who is presenting such behavior. However, Child Protective Services are also required to take legal action (such as removing the child from the custody of the adult) upon investigation into the matter.

Regardless, it is necessary for both the perpetrator and the victim to receive adequate mental healthcare that would help them cope with and move on from thetraumaof such a relationship.

That said, if a family member of the perpetrator or child is in need of support, information, or other services, reaching out to an expert can help them cope with the situation.

If you or a loved one are struggling with factitious disorder imposed on self or other, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

A Word From Verywell

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed., text revision (DSM 5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787

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