Differences of Munchausen syndrome by proxy according to predominant symptoms in Japan.

Background: The purpose of the present paper was to investigate differing characteristics of Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) between subjects with predominantly physical symptoms and those with predominantly psychological symptoms.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was sent to 11 leading doctors in the child abuse field in Japan, each located in different hospital-based sites. Child abuse doctors answered questions regarding the characteristics of MSBP subjects for whom they had helped care. The differences of characteristics between groups were analyzed using Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney U-test for continuous variables.

Results: Among 21 reported MSBP subjects, 16 MSBP subjects with predominantly physical symptoms (PHY) and five MSBP subjects with predominantly psychological symptoms (PSY) were found. PHY were more likely to be produced, whereas PSY cases were more often simulated. PHY cases were more often life-threatening than PSY cases, but decisions made by the Child Guidance Center surrounding the custodial outcome of MSBP victims did not differ between PHY and PSY cases.

Conclusions: Social welfare services that need to decide on custody for MSBP victims should recognize the relatively high risk of life-threatening danger of PHY cases in their family of origin.