Justice For Families

This term appears to have originated only in the paper detailed below (from 1998.)

Witchcraft’s syndrome: Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy
written by;
Somani MD The Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Princess Esra Hospital, Hyderabad, India

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1365-4362.1998.00429.x

Here's an extract;

A 28-year-old man presented to the Dermatology Outpatient Department with a complaint of a burning sensation and soreness over his left cheek and left ear of 10 days duration. It had started suddenly one morning when he woke up from sleep. He noticed a large blister with intense redness over his left cheek, associated with a burning sensation. There was a history of similar episodes over the past year, and all were sudden in onset, involved the cheeks, and were noticed after waking up from sleep. The patient volunteered that the episodes were always associated with a drinking spree the previous night. The individual was a healthy man with a wife and two children. The patient had been dependent on alcohol for the past year, and had been consuming alcohol for many years. On examination, there was an eschar occupying almost the entire cheek, with a few scattered lesions over the left tragus and left external ear. Peripheral scarring was noted with hyperpigmentation. While the angle of the mouth was superficially involved on the left side, the oral mucosa was normal. The right cheek also showed a few areas of scarring with patches of alopecia. There were no similar lesions elsewhere on the body. The peculiar history and the morphology of the lesion, that defied any classical diagnosis description, prompted us to interrogate both the man and his wife with regard to any serious differences. After much persuasion and on assurance of secrecy, the wife admitted that her husband was an alcoholic and was neglecting his family. When her efforts to prevent his drinking failed, she resorted to this drastic measure. Each time he passed out after a drinking bout, she poured acid on his cheek, hoping that the sequelae would frighten him from drinking. The acid was readily available to her as she used it for domestic cleaning. The couple were sent for psychiatric evaluation as Munchausen's syndrome by proxy (MSBP) or witchcraft's syndrome (WS) was suspected. Detailed psychiatric evaluation, together with psychometric assessment, revealed that the patient had an alcohol dependence (Axis-I diagnosis) and had a cyclothymic personality. Severe marital discord due to alcohol dependence had been present for the past 2 years. Evaluation of the patient's wife revealed that she was under significant psychologic distress. She showed major depressive symptoms with a histrionic personality. She revealed that she had resorted to using the corrosive out of frustration and anger over the behavior of the patient while he was in an inebriated state. The couple are currently undergoing psychiatric treatment.

It would be interesting to find out if the term "Witchcraft's Syndrome" has been used by any social workers or paediatritians in the UK, US or New Zealand (where MSBP allegations are most notably allowed) or did the term not quite take off?

It may be terribly un PC - but I prefer this term, because it says in reality what it is. And that is a severe prejudice against women who are believed to be witches.

It is no different to the middle ages and again that is why I prefer this term because it shows that no progress has been made.

I'm not sure it will catch on and in this example I cannot see why a diagnosis of "witchcraft's syndrome" was used as a reason for a referral.

Firstly this act was not on a child, and secondly there was a reason for this woman to behave like she did. It may not be correct for her to do this, but possibly you could understand her frustration and it's not like she tried to kill him. Whilst I don't agree with her actions. I don't see why this would end up as a "witchcraft syndrome" referral.

She did not try to get any attention from it - it was her husband that went to the doctors to find out what the matter with him was - the wife didn't take him and say she was concerned about him knowing full well what she did. I really don't understand the basis of the referral here.

I thought that MSBP if I think of Beverly Allitt is attributed to getting positive attention/praise by hurting someone else. So Beverly Allitt used to kill people but she was involved in the life saving of her patients and hence received praise for her actions.

I also thought that MSBP meant that someone deliverately hurt someone to get attention - I guess that loosely this happened in this case, because the attention was focussed back on to his wife, but it's not a typical MSBP case is it?

I don't think the term caught on at all, although I know that MSBP allegations sometimes have a distinct witchcraft theme to them. Dr Lynne Wrennall, criminologist at Liverpool University referred to the "ducking stool" analogy used in MSBP profiles - but that was never quite accurate; the ducking stool "theory" (don't think that's the right word) determined that if the woman drowned she wasn't a witch, but if she didn't she was (and was therefore burnt at the stake.) MSBP profiles determine effectively that if the woman drowns or doesn't, she is a witch one way or the other.

I've noticed that many profiles for MSBP/FII have a circular function - such as one profile will determine that a woman who shows interest in her childs medical treatment (such as asking a paediatrician what they are up to) will be an indicator of MSBP/FII whilst another profile will indicate that a woman who shows no interest in her childs medical treatment is subject to MSBP/FII.

I guess in covering every "base" MSBP/FII supporters have learnt the lesson from witchcraft - there was a get-out with that allegation (albeit the woman actually had to die.)

I wonder if Witchcraft Syndrome will finally get used as a genuine term. I imagine somewhere like Nottingham ("out in the wilds") it'll be used as a bit of a joke, before finally sneaking-in to usage in the Secret Courts.

Seems the term is being used.

This one from Munich, Germany (a bit closer than India.)

However the analogy with MSBP isn't so clear. The extract though does give some indication as to the nature of some medical staff thinking and just how easy it is to write up a paper these days;

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119561367/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=

Contact urticaria artefacta (witchcraft-syndrome
H.-J. Bandmann 1 B. Wahl 1
1 Department of Dermatology, City Hospital, Munich Schwabing, FRG
Correspondence to Prof. Dr. H.-J. Bandmann, Department of Dermatology/City Hospital, Kölner Platz I, 8000 München 40, West Germany
Copyright Munksgaard 1982
KEYWORDS
Non-immunologic contact urticaria • benzyl ester of nicotinic acid • penetration on palm and soles

ABSTRACT

Several customers at a hairdressing salon developed urticaria-like lesions of the skin after being served by the daughter of the owner. Patch tests and laboratory tests were negative. The patient used a chemical trick to deceive her family.

Germany has horrific child protection. So I wouldn't be surprised at MSBP/witchcraft being used in Germany...

Well I've attached the video that changed my opinion on Germany.

This is the best video on child protection, that I've ever seen.

German CPS **MUST WATCH**
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jnDqWEMeH7s

I don't know anyone that's not really affected by this video, it's beyond belief.

So they take her 7 children from her, these children are told she is dead then she ends up in torment, a child of hers dies in care then because she is tormented an official solicitor wants her committed, then she gets a bill for funeral costs of her dead daughter whom she has been forcefully separated from and not seen for 5 years? Crazy!

She seems very normal to me.

I haven't seen the video Andrew - but funeral costs of a child who has died in care? My good god that is a disgrace. Adding insult to injury.

Fassitangel, if there's any video I'd literally BEG you to watch, it's this one.

Nothing else on YT compares to it.

I agree it is good.

Has the mother been committed into a mental institution yet?

Just finished reading David Allison and Mark S. Roberts Disordered Mother or Disordered Diagnosis

Witchcraft Syndrome is definately a relevant term for MSBP/FII. I think Meadows tried to suggest that MSBP was a development of a 1950's Richard Asher definition for (plain old) Munchausen's.

But the usage of MSBP/FII, particularly through the use of profiles that determine guilt if a woman denies having the syndrome, are lifted directly from witchcraft allegations and trials in the 17th Century. It appears as if whoever creates and uses these profiles is more than aware of their analogy with the "ducking stool" concept of inquisition (drowned if you are innocent, burnt to death if you aren't.) I have no doubt MSBP defines forms of child abuse that can and do occur. But the use of MSBP/FII provides a means to easily accuse a woman of...well, let's not beat about the bush...witchcraft.

So I will be employing the term "Witchcraft Syndrome" from now on. I think fassitangels is right; the term is more appropriate and I think it reflects the usage of such allegations to a tee. Dunno whether it will catch on, but ultimately I think it stops the confusion with all the different terms in use for what was, according to SIr Meadow, supposedly a very rare occurence.