MMFrazee@... asked this question on 3/20/2000:

I'm looking for information on a disorder that usually occurs between an adult and their child. This disorder is as follows, the adult has a need for attention and deliberately makes the child sick or injured in order to have a cause to take the child to a doctor and gets their need for attention met by the doctor and others who praise them for taking care of their sick child. I wonder if this also occurs in the caring for the elderly. I'm not sure I spelled it right in the subject line or even if this is the right name for it. The situation I am dealing with has to do with someone caring for elderly or terminally ill persons, they go all out with doctors, nurses, therapists, nutritionalists, social workers - ect., ect., Thanks, Michael

RAD gave this response on 3/20/2000:

What you have so well described is called Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, which was coined by R. Meadow in 1977. An excellent overview of this syndrome can be found in the book CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY, Melvin Lewis (Ed.), Williams & Wilkins, 1991, pp. 1030-1037. A number of books on this subject are also available. Go to amazon.com and click on "books" then enter the search word "Munchausen". You will find a list of books that should challenge your curiosity. This syndrome is usually applied to situations with parents and children. I do not know if it is the proper term for situations such as an adult child and his or her elderly parent. However, it seems logical to do so. But do not take my word for it. Research the literature and find out what specialists in this area think. Thank you for posing such an interesting question.

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