How to spot signs of Münchausen syndrome by proxy as Gypsy Rose is released from prison

An expert has revealed how to spot the signs of Münchausen syndrome by proxy after Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s release from prison.

Gypsy Rose was famously a victim of the rare disorder after her mum, Clauddine ‘Dee Dee’ Blanchard, lied to the world about her being terminally ill.

Dee Dee forced Gypsy Rose to use a wheelchair and oxygen tank, and also took her to the doctors tricking them into diagnosing and treating her daughter for conditions such as leukemia.

Seeing no other way out of the situation, Gypsy Rose plotted with her boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn to murder Dee Dee, who Godejohn stabbed to death.

Godejohn was sentenced to life in prison, while Gypsy Rose served seven years of a ten year sentence.

But what exactly is Münchausen syndrome by proxy?

Psychotherapist Alex Iga Golabe spoke to the Daily Star to explain the signs of the serious mental illness.

Crime + Investigation

The Cleveland Clinic defines Munchausen syndrome as ‘when someone tries to get attention and sympathy by falsifying, inducing, and/or exaggerating an illness. They lie about symptoms, sabotage medical tests (like putting blood in their urine), or harm themselves to get the symptoms’.

‘By Proxy’ means lying about someone else’s illness.

Golabe says the illness ‘involves a parent or caregiver lying about their child being unwell or purposefully making the child ill, for instance manipulating test results to achieve a desired outcome. It is classified as a form of child abuse’.

They added that certain types of people are much more likely to have Münchausen syndrome by proxy.

They explained: “According to research, nearly all abusers are female (97.6%) and the victim’s mother (95.6%). Most are married (75.8%). Perpetrators were frequently reported to be in healthcare-related professions (45.6%), to have had obstetric complications (23.5%), or to have histories of childhood maltreatment (30%).”

As for how doctors go about diagnosing the condition, obviously that is quite tricky.

Crime + Investigation Play

Golabe said: “No diagnostic criteria exists. Doctors also have little knowledge about this condition.

"Doctors are also surrounded by illness and high mortality rates in hospitals so they are more likely to attempt to treat the child (victim)’s symptoms as legitimate to avoid death.”

According to Heathline, the warning signs of Münchausen syndrome by proxy in a child include repeated hospitalisations, symptoms that don’t match test results or fit any disease, and symptoms that improve under medical care but seem to get worse at home.

Alarm bells to look out for in caregivers are attention-seeking behaviour, trying to come across as selfless, refusing to leave a child’s side and speaking for them, becoming overly involved with doctors and nurses, exaggerating symptoms and appearing to enjoy being in hospital.