Significance of "abnormal reaction susceptibility" of adolescents in Munchausen by proxy syndrome. Simulation, folie à deux, induced artefact disease or what else?
Günter, M.; Boos, R.
Der Nervenarzt 65(5): 307-312
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2804 PMID: 8052333 Document Number: 7627
There are very few publications about the induction of emotional disturbances in Munchausen by proxy syndrome, although we see these children in our clinical work. While the pathology of the inducing mothers has been described quite well, the equally important question of pathological reactions of the child, which is a major factor at least in adolescents, has not yet been discussed. We present an unusual case of induced borderline psychosis and discuss the above mentioned aspect in relation to several psychopathological concepts, particularly Erikson's identity diffusion and folie à deux. We conclude that the concept of a simple induction of the disturbance in adolescents, which has been used so far, is insufficient. According to the authors the importance of the reactions discussed in this paper reaches far beyond Munchausen by proxy syndrome. The same reactions can for example be seen also in cases of sexual abuse. A bigger sample of patients needs to be investigated to confirm our considerations.
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