Deck 9: Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Question 1

The DSM-V does not use the term, Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. Instead, the same types of behaviors are called:

A) Making My Child Ill Mania
B) Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another
C) Post-Partum Psychosis
D) Differential Identity Disorder by Proxy

Answer 1

Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another

Question 2

Who coined the term Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?

A) Sir Thomas Stevens
B) Sir William Gates
C) Sir Roy Meadow
D) Sigmund Freud

Answer 2

Sir Roy Meadow

Question 3

A mother who says her child had ten seizures, when only one seizure occurred, is guilty of:

A) exaggerating
B) fabricating
C) inducing
D) all of the above

Answer 3

exaggerating

Question 4

A caregiver who injects a non-diabetic child with insulin is guilty of:

A) exaggerating
B) fabricating
C) inducing
D) all of the above

Question 5

If a mother says that her infant stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated when this never happened, she is guilty of:

A) exaggerating
B) fabricating
C) inducing
D) all of the above

Question 6

Which of the following is true with regard to false claims of illness or disability in an educational setting.

A) unlike claims of physical illness, nobody is hurt by a false educational claim
B) these claims are a hassle for the school district, but they do not impact the child
C) these claims are very costly to school districts
D) there have been no claims of MPS in an educational setting

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT true about MPS?

A) victimization is usually short lived
B) victims are usually infants and toddlers
C) victims may suffer unnecessary pain as a result of the parent's actions and/or medical procedures
D) more than one child in a family may be a victim

Question 8

are the most common victims of MPS.

A) Adolescents
B) Children in elementary school
C) Infants and toddlers
D) The elderly

Question 9

Most perpetrators of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy are:

A) Fathers
B) Mothers
C) Babysitters
D) Grandmothers

Question 10

The main motivation behind Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy appears to be:

A) the sadistic desire to cause pain
B) extreme dislike of the child
C) getting attention
D) a desire to have fewer children

Question 11

When Libow interviewed adult survivors of MPS, he found that

A) They had no negative symptoms from their earlier victimization
B) When looking back at the abuse, none of the adults were aware, at the time, that anything was wrong
C) Most of the adults had sought mental health help to deal with their victimization.
D) Most of the adults had lasting physical problems, but they were well adjusted psychologically.

Question 12

Which of the following is considered suspicious when evaluating a case for possible Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?

A) a mother who resists allowing further tests or procedures
B) a mother who seems disinterested in the medical treatment
C) a mother who is seen as shy and quiet
D) a mother who does not appear to be relieved by good news

Question 13

Many mothers who are guilty of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy have a background in:

A) business
B) law
C) healthcare
D) law enforcement

Question 14

Which of the following diagnoses would be appropriate for a case in which a child was being made ill by their caregiver, regardless of the caregiver's motivation?

A) Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
B) Pediatric Condition Falsification
C) Malingering by Proxy
D) Factitious Disorder by Proxy

Question 15

Which of the following diagnoses would be most appropriate for a mother who told everyone her child had cancer so that they would give her money to help pay for treatment?

A) Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
B) Pediatric Condition Falsification
C) Malingering by Proxy
D) Factitious Disorder by Proxy

Question 16

The mortality rate associated with MPS is estimated to be

A) less than 5%
B) 6 to 10%
C) 20 to 25%
D) Over 30%

Question 17

According to Libow's study, adult survivors of MPS tended to place blame on

A) the non-offending parent who did not protect them
B) the offending parent
C) themselves
D) all of the above

Question 18

According to Libow's study, most adult survivors of MPS indicated that

A) had no long term effects from the maltreatment
B) did not seek therapy to help themselves as a result of the maltreatment
C) their experiences with MPS had a significant, negative impact on their adult life
D) that they now engaged in MPS with their own children

Question 19

The mission of MAMA is to

A) prevent Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
B) fight false allegations of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
C) accuse doctors of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
D) fight to eliminate video surveillance

Question 20

Dr. Roy Meadow's expert testimony was called into question due to his problems with:

A) understanding the diagnosis of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
B) his diagnosing a disorder he had named
C) improper statistical testimony
D) the fact that he was paid to provide testimony

Question 21

Restricting a parent's access to a child when one suspects Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy generally requires

A) a doctor's note
B) Child Protective Services intervention
C) a court order
D) The parent's access cannot be restricted

Question 22

Which of the following is true with regard to the incidence of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?

A) While Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy is rare, experts expect that the incidence may increase as professionals become more aware of the syndrome.
B) Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy is one of the most common forms of child maltreatment
C) Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy is less common than neglect, but more common than sexual abuse
D) None of the above is true.

Question 23

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects citizens from

A) having to testify against family members
B) government interference with how they raise their children
C) unreasonable search and seizure
D) having to testify in cases where they are the defendant

Question 24

With regard to the age of victims with Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, which of the following is accurate?

A) All victims are under the age of 10 years
B) 95% of victims are infants or toddlers
C) Almost all victims are 5 years old or older
D) Approximately 25% of victims are over the age of 6 years

Question 25

Which of the following is true regarding the study by Hall, Eubanks, Meyyazhagan, Kenny and Johnson (2000) using covert video surveillance?

A) By videotaping the caregivers suspected of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, the authors were able to see that none of them were maltreating their children.
B) Evidence of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy was found in more than half of the suspected cases.
C) The mothers who were abusive were almost all African American.
D) The true victims of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy were nearly all male children.

Question 26

What is the relationship between the terms "Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy" and "Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another"?

Question 27

Give an example of exaggeration, one of fabrication, and one of inducing.

Question 28

List 5 perpetrator characteristics associated with MPS.

Question 29

Define Pediatric Falsification Syndrome

Question 30

List 5 possible outcomes associated with child victims of MPS

Question 31

If you suspected that a child you were working with was the victim of MPS, what should you do first?