Child abuse occurs in many different forms, from psychological to sexual to physical. However, one form that is rarely talked about is abuse disguised as a loving parent helping a sick child. This type of abuse is known as Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP). MSBP is a type of factitious disorder, a factitious disorder is a type of "mental disorder in which a person acts as if he or she has a physical or mental illness when, in fact, he or she has consciously created his or her own symptoms" (An Overview of Factitious Disorders) . The characteristics of this type of mental illness are as follows but not limited to; dramatic and varied medical history, inconsistent symptoms, extensive knowledge of hospitals and medical care, and seeking out many different doctors in different locations. These symptoms are generally applied to the patient's meaning; of their own free will they manufacture diseases. However these symptoms have recently been expanded (around 2004) to include a caregiver, MSBP. This disease is extremely difficult to diagnose because the lines between dedicated caregiver and abusive parent are often blurred or even nonexistent. Because of this problem, how MSBP is managed once discovered is extremely complicated. Although Munchhausen by proxy is a form of child abuse, modern psychological research indicates that it should be treated as a factitious clinical disorder through medication and talk therapy because it has been found that simply time in prison does not prevent future episodes of the disease. by proxy was first recognized as a mental illness in the late 1970s by physician and pediatrician Roy Meadow. (Fish, Bromfield and Higgins). It is generally observed in mothers who are victims of abuse. The kind of... half of the paper... syndrome by proxy." The Journal of Psychiarty and Law 38 (210): 307-23. Print.Pham, Sherisse. "Mother accused of poisoning her own child; Rare Case of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?" ABC News. ABC News Network, August 7, 2013. Web. December 3, 2013. Stirling, John, Jr, MD, and the Committee on Child Abuse and Abuse. "Beyond Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy: Identification and Treatment of Child Abuse in a Medical Context." Beyond Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy: Identification and Treatment of Child Abuse in a Medical Context. American Academy of Pediatrics, 2007. Web. 03 December 2013. Zylstra, Robert G., Ed.D, LCSW, Karl E. Miller, MD, and Walter E. Stephens, MD "Munchausen syndrome by proxy: a clinical vignette" J Clinical Pscyiatry 2.2 (2000): 42-44 Web October 7. 2013. .