Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSP) is a rare mental health disorder in which an individual fabricates or induces physical or psychological symptoms in someone else, typically a child, to get attention or sympathy for themselves.
Symptoms of MSP
The primary symptom of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSP) is the fabrication or induction of physical or psychological symptoms in another person, usually a child.
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The individual may fabricate medical history for the child, lie about symptoms, exaggerate existing symptoms, or even cause physical harm to the child to garner attention and sympathy for themselves.
A Grown Woman Pretends to be a Child
In 2019, a grown woman in the United Kingdom was arrested for pretending to be a child. She had created a false identity online and pretended to be a 12-year-old girl. She even went so far as to produce fake medical documents claiming that she had a heart condition.
When confronted, the woman confessed that she had been pretending to be a child to gain sympathy and attention from people she interacted with online. She was diagnosed with Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Conclusion
Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy is a rare but serious mental health disorder in which an individual fabricates or induces physical or psychological symptoms in another person, usually a child, to gain attention or sympathy.
In this case, a grown woman was arrested for pretending to be a child, which is a criminal offense in some jurisdictions. It is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of MSP so that individuals can get help before the situation escalates.