Is there a psych disorder that makes a woman claim child abuse?

Question

I heard about a woman who claims that she caught her 17 year old brother trying to molest her 5 year old son.
My friend knows the brother (not her) and we do not believe he is guilty.
The kid recently told his family that he was gay and we think that that is why she has started these accusations.

Then it turns out that she has made these kind of accusations against random people in the past - she used to tell people that a man came up and just started molesting her son at the supermarket in broad daylight.

Is it possible that this woman suffers from a disease like Munchausen Syndrome?

She is causing huge problems for her brother and even though the parents are on his side - the law might not be so reasonable.

What can be done to find out if this parent is even fit to be alone with her own son?

Answer 1

In diagnosing mental disorders there is no disorder that lists this as a specific criteria. That being said, there are many mental disorders in which people may make such claims, either for attention, as a way of dealing with their own history, to take the attention off themselves, and numerous other reasons.

However, in a situation like this, especially as it involves a 5 year old boy, the boys safety is the biggest issue, not whether or not the woman has a mental disorder, or the repuation of the 17 year old or any other person involved. People in Child Protective Services deal with this type of situation ALL the time, and they will investigate indepth the situation. Many times CPS will talk with not only the family and the 5 year old boy, but others as well. Your friend may write up a character reference letter on behalf of the 17 year old to give to the CPS worker, and then let them make the final decision. While its hard to believe any of our friends could do something that horrible, at the same time its hard to know everything about all of our friends. The best thing to do is look out for the safety of the 5 year old. Most likely CPS will, at the least, refer the family to therapy, it may turn out the 17 year old could benefit, and it may also end up involving the woman you're talking about too.

Also keep in mind that if any mental health worker, nurse, doctor, teacher, police officer etc, is given the same information by this woman they are LEGALLY required to notify CPS.

Answer 2

I don't know if there is a technical name for this sort of blaming, however, I do know that there are people that does have this problem. (they almost seem to be obsessed with this kind of thinking). It's like the "little boy that called wolf once too often" and no one believed him. The only way any one is ever going to know for sure is to question the 5 yr. old without her. If he doesn't make a statement as to someone doing this to him, the law, I don't believe, can really do any thing.
As far as this parent being fit to be a parent, that is entirely up to the LAW and the Childrens Protective Services.
Your friend, if he is under the age of 18, or still in school, could actually make a complaint to the authorities, if he's in school, go to the school counselor. If he is not, go and talk to CPS to see what kind of suggestion they may have for him. If he doesn't go on the defensive, he could very well become a suspect.
Since the supposed victim is only 5 yrs. old, go to the school, or CPS and request it to be looked into. There may already be a case against/for her. I'd want to know how much emotional damage is being done to her son by her crazy accusations, and is she abusing her own son? Yes, I would certainly get the law involved, thru the schools and CPS.
The real victim here isn't the 17 yr. old, but the 5 yr. old. That is who really needs the protection. So yes, find out what you can do to protect your friend that is 17, and that in turn protects the 5 yr. old. If you feel there is abuse, whether it's verbal, emotional (and I would suspect emotinal and verbal) physical, sexual, or social, (and I suspect this social abuse too) then report it to the authorities. PLEASE!!!!

Answer 3

Well...her claims need to be investigated...what if she IS telling the truth?...unfortunately,....she just might be. She is otherwise, a compulsive liar that believes her own dangerous lies...not so much a mental illness, but looking for attention and trying to make herself look important by being the crusader and saving the innocents...she needs to be told that the police can also take a lie detector test, and she can go to jail for false arrest, etc....not everytime when someone lies viciously is it a mental illness...just a liar of the worst most dangerous sort for attention.

Answer 4

She needs to get help & the kid needs to get away from her. What if she is the one doing those things to her son. Maybe she just wants the finger pointed at someone eles so she does not get in trouble. Help that kid find agood home that mom is crazy.

Answer 5

Yeah, there is a term for this mental disorder. I cannot recall the name, but i know what you are talking about. sorry i can't be of more help