The deceit continues: an updated literature review of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
OBJECTIVE
This article presents an updated review of the literature of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (Factitious Disorder by Proxy, MBP).


METHODS
Four hundred fifty-one cases of MBP were analyzed from 154 medical and psychosocial journal articles.


RESULTS
Typical victims may be either males or females, usually 4 years of age or under. Victims averaged 21.8 months from onset of symptoms to diagnosis. Six percent of victims were dead, and 7.3% were judged to have suffered long-term or permanent injury. Twenty-five percent of victims' known siblings are dead, and 61.3% of siblings had illnesses similar to those of the victim or which raised suspicions of MBP. Mothers were perpetrators in 76.5% of cases, but as knowledge of MBP grows a wider range of perpetrators is identified. In a small number of cases, MBP was found to co-exist with secondary gain or other inflicted injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Although published cases form a non-random sample, they add to knowledge about MBP and validate claims that it occurs. More knowledge about non-medical aspects of MBP, and more pooling of data, is desirable.
Sheridan
Mary S
MS
Social Work Program, Hawaii Pacific University, 1188 Fort St Mall, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D008192:Deception; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers; D016735:Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy / Q000175:diagnosis*