Ottobre 2014 - Volume XXXIII - numero 8

Medico e Bambino

Focus

LA SINDROME DI MÜNCHAUSEN BY PROXY

a cura di Elisa Panontin^1,2 e Giorgio Cozzi¹

¹Clinica Pediatrica
²Scuola di Specializzazione in Pediatria, IRCCS Materno-Infantile “Burlo Garofolo”, Università di Trieste

Why publishing a Focus on Münchausen by proxy syndrome? Simply because the physician is a leading actor of the disease: without the physician Münchausen by proxy syndrome (MPS) would not exist. Besides, only the physician can break the chain of events that characterizes it. Children are the victims of MPS in most cases, thus the paediatrician most frequently meets the syndrome in their clinical practice. Therefore, knowing the typical features of the syndrome is essential. Specific clues of MPS exist. The diagnosis requires a long iter and a multispecialist approach. The paediatrician suspecting MPS may be aided by a neuropsychiatrist and a forensic scientist, but they need to know by themselves when and how to inform competent authorities. MPS is a kind of child abuse, therefore child protection must be the first aim. MPS exists and cannot be ignored. The aim of this Focus is to help physicians tackling it.

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