Fabricated or induced illness - Treating fabricated or induced illness

The first aim in treating a child who has been affected by fabricated or induced illness (FII) is to restore them to good health.

Younger children and babies who don't understand they were victims of abuse often make a good recovery once the abuse stops.

Older children, particularly those who have been abused for many years, will have more complex problems. For example, many older children who are affected by FII believe they are really ill. They need help and support to develop a more realistic understanding of their health. They may also need to learn how to tell the difference between the lies of their parent or carer and reality.

Children affected by FII may also need help returning to a normal lifestyle, including going back to school.

It's also common for older children to feel loyal to their parent or carer, and a corresponding sense of guilt if that parent or carer is removed from the family.

The parent or carer

Treatment of a parent or carer responsible for FII will include a combination of:

• intensive psychotherapy
• family therapy – the father may need individual help, especially if he is the main caregiver

The aim of psychotherapy is to uncover and resolve the issues that caused them to fake or induce illness in their child.

The aim of family therapy is to resolve any tensions within the family, improve parenting skills and attempt to repair the relationship between the parent or carer and the child.

In more severe cases, the parent or carer may be compulsorily detained in a psychiatric ward under the Mental Health Act so their relationship with their child can be closely monitored.

The best results occur in cases where the parent or carer:

• understands and acknowledges the harm they have caused the child
• is able to communicate the underlying motivations and needs that led them to fake or cause illness
• is able to work together with healthcare and other professionals

Many parents or carers will experience feelings of guilt and depression, for which they will need to receive additional treatment.

However, treating people who are involved in this type of abuse is often very challenging, because they can lack a clear understanding of what they have done to their child, and remain in a state of denial about the consequences of their actions.

Many need to be referred to a specialist psychiatric unit, because their needs are too complex to be dealt with by local adult psychiatric services.