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Psychopathology of perpetrators of fabricated or induced illness in children: case series
- Authors:
- BASS Christopher, JONES David
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(2), August 2011, pp.113-118.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Munchausen's syndrome by proxy is a rare form of child abuse. However, little is known about the psychopathology of the perpetrators. This paper investigated the medical, psychiatric, social work and forensic records of mothers referred for detailed psychiatric assessment from 1996 to 2009. Participants included 28 individuals with a diagnosis of fabricated or induced illness were referred to the authors for detailed psychiatric assessment. Findings revealed that 57% had evidence of a current somatoform disorder, and factitious disorders were identified in 64%. There was evidence of pathological lying in 61%. A chronic somatoform disorder or factitious disorder was detected in almost two-thirds of the participants. Over half of the mothers exhibited pathological lying, in some dating from adolescence, and this often continued into adult life. The authors concluded that psychiatrists should always be aware of the potential impact of these illnesses on any dependent children.
Does somatization influence quality of life among older primary care patients?
- Authors:
- SHEEHAN Bart, LALL Ranjit, BASS Christopher
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(10), October 2005, pp.697-972.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Somatization is a worldwide phenomenon and the commonest way for patients to present in primary care with psychiatric disorder. This UK study examines whether, among older primary care attenders, somatized symptoms are independently associated with relevant measures of quality of life. One hundred and twenty seven older primary care attenders completed measures of somatized symptoms, psychiatric status, physical health and health-related quality of life. Logistic regression analyses established independent relationships of health and sociodemographic variables with reports of overall quality of life, overall health, restriction of physical activities by health and restriction of social activities by health. For all four outcomes, somatized symptoms independently predicted poorer quality of life ratings. Somatized symptoms independently influence quality of life in older primary care patients and are worthy of clinical attention.