2005 Volume 45 Issue 7 Pages 537-544
We gave the term "Equivalent symptom" to cases in which the motive for consultation has to do with the parents themselves taking the role of the patient through their child. We then examined the traits and medical courses in those cases. Within our cases, 2 of 12 parents were diagnosed with factitious disorder by proxy. Their children's symptoms included various physical symptoms and problematic behavior. In their family background, nine cases were found to have intergenerational transmission in which the parents maltreated their child, and the parents themselves had also been maltreated in their own childhood. Nine cases had family dysfunction, such as single-parent families or marital discord. By visiting pediatricians, parents with Equivalent indirectly seek care for themselves. Pediatricians are responsible for recognizing equivalent symptoms, receiving these visits warmly, and supporting those affected in cooperation with all concerned institutions.
