Am J Psychiatry 1980; 137:1223-1225
Copyright © 1980 by American Psychiatric Association
Cinderella syndrome: children who simulate neglect
J Goodwin, CG Cauthorne and RT Rada
The authors describe three adopted girls, aged 9 and 10, who falsely
alleged that their adoptive mothers dressed them in rags, made them do all
the chores, and favored their stepsiblings. Underlying these false
accusations of abuse was a history that included 1) actual abuse of the
child in a previous placement, 2) early loss of a mothering figure, and 3)
emotional abuse in the adoptive home. Professional involved in child
protection eed to recognize this syndrome because intensive family therpay
and temporary placement of the child outside the home are required in all
cases. The child's false accusation of abuse is a cry for help and should
not be dismissed as a manipulative fabrication.
