Child Abuse comes in many different forms, ranging from the psychological to sexual to physical. One of the forms, however that is rarely talked about is abuse masquerading as a loving parent helping a sickly child. This type of abuse is known as Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP). MSBP is a type of factious disorder, a factious disorder is a type of “mental disorder in which a person acts as if he or she has a physical or mental illness when, in fact, he or she has consciously created their symptoms”(An Overview of Factitious Disorders). The hallmarks of this type of mental illness are as follows but not limited to; dramatic and varied medical history, inconsistent symptoms, extensive knowledge of hospitals and medical care, and seeking many different doctors in varied locations. These symptoms are generally applied to a patient meaning; of their own volition they fabricate illnesses. However these symptoms have been expanded recently (circa 2004) to include a caregiver, MSBP. This disease is extremely hard to diagnose because the lines between zealous caregiver and abusive parent are often blurred or even nonexistent. Because of this issue the way MSBP is dealt with once discovered is extremely complicated. Although Munchhausen’s by Proxy is a form of child abuse, modern psychological research indicates that it should be treated as a clinical factitious disorder through medications and talk therapy because it is has been found that mere prison time does not prevent future episodes of the disease.
Munchhausen’s by proxy was first recognized as a mental illness in late seventies by Doctor and Pediatrician Roy Meadow. (Fish, Bromfield, and Higgins). It is general seen in mothers who are victims of abuse themselves. The type of ...
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...en Syndrome by Proxy." The Journal of Psychiarty and Law 38 (210): 307-23. Print.
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Charles has agreed to medication protocol of Haldol injections and Resperadol. He adamantly refuses psychotherapy. While hospitalized Charles makes reference to being sexually abused he refuses to go into depth or give specifics. Prior to the diagnosis Charles’s mother reports became withdrawn at the age of seven Charles’s father died in a car accident.
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Rita Mae Brown, an American writer, once said, “The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you” (Brown). Psychological and mental disorders are very common in the world, but it is commonly hidden by the public and a majority of the time, people are unclear if they have one or not. Sometimes these disorders are not just harmful to the individual person, but also to those surrounding the infected person. One particular syndrome in which the environment surrounding a person is at risk is Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a peculiar psychological disease that scientists and other medical professions are still trying to find the origins and explanations for this syndrome. Throughout the course of history, Munchausen has developed into a full-fledged disease and it still exists to this day.
In the book Signs of Life, the author Linda Seger writes about heroes, and their typical characteristics, that for the most part have always been the same throughout history. Even the word hero is already put in the male tense, suggesting there that most heroes have been and will be males. For the most part Seger’s points are well taken and are backed up mostly by every heroic story I’ve ever read or seen before in my life.
Psychological maltreatment is also often referred to interchangeably as emotional or mental abuse. This refers to any form of maltreatment that can be categorized as an individual being subjected to the activities of another individual that frequently result in any form of mental trauma of the victim. Psychological maltreatment can be seen as one of the most serious and slightly overlooked problems in modern society (Lesson & Nixon, 2010). In general, psychological maltreatment is considered any kind of abuse that is emotional opposed to physical in nature. Nevertheless, there is much controversy regarding the true definition and consequences of psychological maltreatment. As of now, psychological maltreatment is one of the most difficult forms of maltreatment to detect and
Parrish, Margaret & Joy, P (2004). Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy: Some implications for social workers. Adolescent Social Work Journal, 21 v. 2
At present, people with either Munchausen syndrome or Munchausen syndrome by proxy are seldom, if ever, treated with drugs. Standard methods of management and treatment include early recognition of the disorder and years of intensive counseling; many doctors believe that the disorders are not treatable, inferring from the nature of the disorders that giving the subject medical attention would in fact heighten the severity of their pathology. (2) Munchausen syndrome and Munchausen syndrome by proxy are rarely treated successfully.
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Child abuse is a very serious problem that nurses may encounter over the duration of their careers, it is important to understand the signs of child abuse, and be able to recognize it. There are various different kinds of child abuse that may be observed, it is important to remember that all forms of abuse are damaging, and serious and should be treated appropriately (Caneira, & Myrick, 2015). Many challenges are associated with child abuse and this may affect the role of the nurse when providing care to these families. The purpose of this paper is to explore what child abuse is, the role of the nurse in abusive families, and how the nurse can be involved in some of its challenges.
Most of us in our lifetimes have committed the act of “malingering”. As children, we just did not want to go to school for fear in being picked on or perhaps we did not want to take that grueling math test. We made up any excuse to not go to school by feigning a sickness. As an adult, you wanted to take off to guarantee a three- day weekend, concocting and citing to your boss that you felt feverish. Unfortunately, in our society, there have even been some selfish people that will fake an illness, such as Breast Cancer, gain money from funding that sympathetic people have ponied up to benefit their personal obligations.
Child abuse and neglect has recently become the focus of attention of all prevention centers and organizations for children care. Mistreatment of children has existed through history. Children are unable to protect themselves of physical abuse. They have been abandoned, terrorized, beaten, killed and sexual abused. A major portion of the literature of my review focused on child abuse has dealt with the personality characteristics of the abusive parent and the abused child rather than focus on the psychological damage sustained by the abused child.