Munchausen syndrome by proxy typically occurs in specific caregiver and care receiver relationships
Evidence from clinical reviews and systematic studies confirms that Munchausen syndrome by proxy (factitious disorder imposed on another) typically occurs within distinct caregiver-patient relationships, predominantly involving mothers as perpetrators and their young children as victims.
The claim posits that Munchausen syndrome by proxy typically occurs in specific caregiver and care receiver relationships. Papers [2] and [5] both provide empirical evidence showing that perpetrators are overwhelmingly female caregivers/mothers and victims are typically children or adolescents, demonstrating a distinct relationship pattern. Therefore, the claim is supported.
Wang D, Zhao M, Yin J, La Y. Characteristics, interventions, and outcomes of factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA): a systematic review of 455 perpetrators and 469 victims.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1723415
This systematic review of 455 perpetrators and 469 victims details specific demographic patterns, noting that most perpetrators are female and the vast majority of victims are children or adolescents.
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Focardi M, Guerini M, Defraia B, Nanni L, Grifoni R, Castellini G, Gualco B, Bianchi I, Pinchi V, Losi S. Medical Child Abuse: A Retrospective Analysis from a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital's Childhood and Adolescent Abuse Group.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/children12111575
This retrospective study found that all perpetrators of medical child abuse (Munchausen syndrome by proxy) were biological mothers, and the victims shared specific median ages and clinical presentation patterns.
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