Please help! Is Munchausen's by proxy purely physical or can they do it with mental too?

Question

What I mean is, does it always have to be physical symptoms, like getting the child sick physically. Could it be mentally? Like repeatedly taking them to different councelours and psychiatrists when the child is not mentally ill? Telling other people/relatives that the child has a mental disorder when the child has not been diagnosed with one? Trying to have them "commited" things like that?

Answer 1

I think it is possible. it might be in the early stage. If she does not get the attention she wants she might get worse and do something physical or she might stop at thsi point. Also you might not know if she is doing anything physical to the kid. The thing is that it could be other things like her being a bad parent and thinks a disobedient child is abnormal. Only a good Psych can diagnose this properly. She needs psychological help anyways. It might be best to do it by convincing her to have a session with her and the child. You might offer to pay and give the Psych a heads up. They can't tell you what he thinks, but I think if he thinks she is a danger to the child, he would have to tell the authorities.

Answer 2

Munchausen's by Proxy can be either mental or physical. I have a friend whose son was diagnosed as schizophrenic because his mother (the ex) was constantly after her son to exhibit symptoms so she could collect his money from SSI. He actually is not schizophrenic and has not been on medication for 15 years. He got better after he got away from his crazy mother, and is able to live independently (she had always claimed there was no way he would ever be able to). SHE is the one who's sick, for sure!

Answer 3

technically I don't know if that kind of abuse is classified as Munchausen's by proxy but it certainly should be.

If someone is doing that to their kid, you might keep a log of what you know; document the patterns of abuse.

How horrible.

Answer 4

Not usually,it is most often physical.