Non-accidental poisoning/Munchausen syndrome by proxy

Lead investigator

P M Davis

About the study

The term “Munchausen syndrome by proxy” was first used in 1977 to describe illness or disability in a child, fabricated by another person (usually the mother), causing the child to be presented persistently to doctors. The “illness” disappeared when the child and the perpetrator separated. The more serious forms of such abuse include non-accidental poisoning and suffocation. These last two types may also occur in isolation.

At the time of the study, there had not been an epidemiological survey of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, non-accidental poisoning or non-accidental suffocation. The BPSU study aimed to define both the incidence and epidemiology of Munchausen syndrome by proxy and identify its commonest forms.

Previous research had shown that half the children who suffer from this abuse also suffer from another form of abuse. It was unknown what proportion of children suffer Munchausen syndrome by proxy solely through the parent inventing false stories, rather than through direct harm by way of poisoning, suffocation, or other physical injury.

Non-accidental poisoning and suffocation of children were uncommon forms of child abuse. There was little knowledge about whether they were isolated events or simply one aspect of more continuing child abuse, including factitious illness and Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Non-accidental suffocation was a recognised feature of Munchausen syndrome by proxy; it accounted for a small minority of “cot deaths”. Suffocation of children outside this context was not well documented,

The study aimed to define the incidence and epidemiology of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, non-accidental poisoning, and suffocation and to compare the management and outcome of the different types of abuse.

Duration

September 1992 – August 1994

Published papers

Support group

Contact
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