The overlap of metabolic/mitochondrial disease and Munchausen-by-proxy syndrome (MBPS)

Acts of parental manipulation are frequent occurrences and need a more scientific assessment to determine causes and the harmful effects invariably impacting a family system. A behavioral perspective of symptom fabrication (malingering, FDIA, or PAS) considers other setting events or variables in the perpetrator-parent’s life that sequesters personality traits or psychiatric illnesses from naturalistic behaviors. Less focus is on parental alienation syndrome or factitious disorders than on the integrative-field of contingencies enabling a parent to coach her child into believing fabrications about another parent. Chapter 11 reviews a case of a father falsely accusing his ex-girlfriend of inappropriately touching their mutual 6 year old son. The case prompted instigation by a local Children’s Protective Services, not about whether the complainant’s allegations were valid and warranted inquiry, but about the complainant himself. Concerns arose about his manufacturing lies (false allegations) and using the child as conduit or surrogate to mislead the court into terminating parental contact between the biological mother (accused) and her child.