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Factitious Illness by Proxy

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Christopher Bools
Christopher Bools*
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, Royal United Hospital, Bath BA1 3NG
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Abstract

Background

Since 1977 a literature has grown describing examples of factitious illness by proxy (FIP).

Method

The literature in English was searched using MEDLINE and supplemented by a manual search. Extracted data focused on terminology of a spectrum of behaviours, clinical features and psychopathology of perpetrators.

Results

There has been difficulty with the use of terminology and classification of psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions

The spectrum of FIP is wide. Suggestions are made for the use of terminology and classification when FIP is identified.

Type
Review Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 3 , September 1996 , pp. 268 - 275
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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