Münchausen syndrome by proxy
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Münchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP), referred to in the DSM-IV-TR as Factitious Disorder by Proxy, is an insidious disorder in which injury is deliberately and gradually inflicted upon another person usually for gaining attention or some other benefit. Münchausen by proxy has been described by some as a form of extended child abuse, but that description left the physician who first wrote of the condition "squeamish", and is not unanimously agreed with.
The caregiver is usually a parent, guardian, or spouse, and the victim is usually a child or vulnerable adult. Although cases with feigned or induced physical illness receive the most attention, it is also possible for a perpetrator who emotionally abuses a victim to simulate and fabricate conditions that appear to be psychiatric or genetic problems.
