69. Munchausen Syndrome (Factitious Disorder), Part 1
In Part 1 of this two-parter, the docs cover the historical context of the term Munchausen Syndrome and Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, break down how it fits into the DSM-5 and the actual diagnostic term, Factitious Disorder. They also look at rates and risk factors, as well as the differences in behaviors with female and male perpetrators.
Part 2 will cover the case of DeeDee Blancharde and her daughter Gypsy Rose Blancharde, as well as the robust choices of film & TV depictions of Factitious Disorder by Proxy.
Resources:
“7 Real Life Cases of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy - Stay at Home Mum.” Stay at Home Mum, Stay at Home Mum, 5 Dec. 2020, www.stayathomemum.com.au/true-crime/7-real-life-cases-of-munchausen-syndrome-by-proxy/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2021.
“Bizarre Child Abuse Case in Thomasville.” Https://Www.walb.com, 28 Nov. 2008, www.walb.com/story/9407856/bizarre-child-abuse-case-in-thomasville/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2021.
Bütz, M. R., Evans, F. B., & Webber-Dereszynski, R. L. (2009). A practitioner’s complaint and proposed direction: Munchausen syndrome by proxy, factitious disorder by proxy, and fabricated and/or induced illness in children. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 40(1), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012324
Dibdin, E. (2019, April 3). A Complete Timeline of Dee Dee Blanchard’s Murder and Gypsy Blanchard’s Trial. Harper’s BAZAAR; Harper’s BAZAAR. https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a26887708/the-act-dee-dee-gypsy-blanchard-murder-trial-timeline/
Factitious disorder - Symptoms and causes. (2018). Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/factitious-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20356028
Little, Becky. “Why Munchausen by Proxy Can Be so Hard to Prove in Court.” A&E, 31 Mar. 2020, www.aetv.com/real-crime/munchausen-by-proxy-cases-court. Accessed 29 Apr. 2021.
Lynch, Kelly. “Travis Rudolph: FSU Star Eats Lunch with Lonely Autistic Student.” The Hollywood Gossip, The Hollywood Gossip, 31 Aug. 2016, www.thehollywoodgossip.com/videos/travis-rudolph-college-football-star-eats-lunch-with-austistic-m/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2021.
Meadow, R. “Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy Abuse Perpetrated by Men.” Archives of Disease in Childhood, vol. 78, no. 3, 1 Mar. 1998, pp. 210–216, adc.bmj.com/content/78/3/210, 10.1136/adc.78.3.210. Accessed 29 Apr. 2021.
Mousailidis, G. (2019). Factitious disorder: a case report and literature review of treatment. Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry. https://wileymicrositebuilder.com/progress/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2019/05/CN-Factitious-Disorder.pdf
Monroe, Jamison. “The Facts about Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome.” Newport Academy, Newport Academy, 23 July 2018, www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/munchausen-by-proxy-syndrome/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2021.
The Journal News. “Munchausen’s Role in the Strange Case of Lacey Spears.” The Journal News, 7 Mar. 2015, www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2015/03/07/lacey-spears-munchausens-role/24548933/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2021.
Tatu, L., Aybek, S., & Bogousslavsky, J. (2017). Munchausen Syndrome and the Wide Spectrum of Factitious Disorders. Neurologic-Psychiatric Syndromes in Focus Part II - from Psychiatry to Neurology, 81–86. https://doi.org/10.1159/000475682
Wikipedia Contributors. “Murder of Garnett Spears.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Apr. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Garnett_Spears. Accessed 29 Apr. 2021.