Clinical Focus


  • Mindfulness
  • Eating Disorders, Pediatric
  • Munchausen by Proxy
  • International Educational Exchange
  • Psychology

Professional Education


  • Internship: VA Palo Alto Health Care Psychology Training (1985) CA
  • Fellowship: Morrison Child and Family Services (1986) OR
  • PhD Training: Memphis State University (1985) TN
  • Ph.D., University of Memphis, Clinical Psychology (1985)

Community and International Work


  • Project Okurase, Ghana

    Topic

    Community Service

    Populations Served

    Vunerable Children, Village

    Location

    International

    Ongoing Project

    Yes

    Opportunities for Student Involvement

    Yes

Current Research and Scholarly Interests


Dr. Sanders is the Program Director of the Comprehensive Care Unit at Stanford where she teaches and works with inpatients with eating disorders. She has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders for the past 35 years at Stanford. She has written extensively and presented nationally on the subject of the evaluation and treatment of eating disorders and also in the field of child abuse, specifically in the area of Munchausen by proxy.

Dr. Sanders is also involved with an international outreach project in Ghana called Project Okurase. This project involved an annual medical health outreach in the village. The project is also creating a model village which includes the building of a medical clinic, vocational school, and homes for families that take in orphans. The project is also involved with bringing safe water, building compost toilets, and bringing solar energy to the village.

2023-24 Courses


All Publications


  • MUNCHAUSEN BY PROXY ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT: NATIONAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES TRAINING Bursch, B., Bursch, B., Kelly, M., Sanders, M. J., Schreier, H. A. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2020: S116–S117
  • Telehealth transition in a comprehensive care unit for eating disorders: Challenges and long-term benefits. The International journal of eating disorders Datta, N., Derenne, J., Sanders, M., Lock, J. D. 2020

    Abstract

    The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has forced many eating disorder medical stabilization units to consider adjustments that uphold both the quality of care delivered to patients while also observing social distancing public health directives for patients and staff. To date, inpatient facilities for eating disorders (both medical stabilization units and higher level of care facilities) have not needed to consider how to translate services to electronic platforms, given that most of these programs have in-person staff. We outline our transition to telehealth broadly, emphasizing some unexpected benefits of using telehealth services that we plan on integrating into our work-flow post COVID-19. These may be useful for other higher level of care eating disorder programs, including medical stabilization units, residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs. We also highlight aspects of transition that have been more challenging for this particular patient population, warranting the need for in-person services.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/eat.23348

    View details for PubMedID 32715512

  • Psychological Treatment of Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another/Munchausen by Proxy Abuse JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN MEDICAL SETTINGS Sanders, M. J., Bursch, B. 2020; 27 (1): 139–49
  • Evaluation and Management of Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another. Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings Bursch, B., Emerson, N. D., Sanders, M. J. 2019

    Abstract

    Munchausen by proxy refers to an individual who abusively and compulsively falsifies physical, psychiatric or developmental disorders in a child or adult victim in order to satisfy a psychological need. Factitious disorder imposed on another refers to the psychopathology in the abuser. Psychologists in medical settings may: (1) identify patients they come to suspect as being victims or perpetrators of MBP, (2) conduct or assist in clinical or forensic evaluations; (3) offer recommendations for clinical case management, and/or (4) provide treatment or referrals. The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance to psychologists and other mental health professionals in medical settings who may encounter individuals with this potentially lethal form of psychopathology.

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s10880-019-09668-6

    View details for PubMedID 31612305

  • Psychological Treatment of Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another/Munchausen by Proxy Abuse. Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings Sanders, M. J., Bursch, B. 2019

    Abstract

    The purpose of this article is to propose management and treatment protocols for family members impacted by MBP abuse. A brief review of psychopathology, co-morbidities, MBP risk level, treatment outcomes, and rationale for treatment is presented, followed by detailed guidance regarding psychological treatment and management. Weproposefive components of psychotherapy for abusers, best remembered by using the acronym of ACCEPTS: ACknowledgement, Coping, Empathy, Parenting, Taking charge, and Support. Guidance for the treatment of spouses/partners of the abuser, other involved family members/friends, and child victims are also provided.

    View details for PubMedID 31089919

  • Children and adolescents with eating disorders: The state of the art PEDIATRICS Rome, E. S., Ammerman, S., Rosen, D. S., Keller, R. J., Lock, J., Mammel, K. A., O'Toole, J., Rees, J. M., Sanders, M. J., Sawyer, S. M., Schneider, M., Sigel, E., SILBER, T. J. 2003; 111 (1)

    Abstract

    Eating disorders in children and adolescents remain a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in children, adolescents, and young adults. The working knowledge of pathophysiology, recognition, and management of eating disorders continues to evolve as research in this field continues.This article builds on previous background and position papers outlining issues relevant to the care of the adolescent patient with an eating disorder.The eating disorder special interest group from the Society for Adolescent Medicine recognized the need to update the state of the art published guidelines for the care of the adolescent patient with an eating disorder. This article was a multidisciplinary, group effort to summarize the current knowledge of best practice in the field.This article summarizes newer findings on pathogenesis and etiology, prevention and screening, risk factors, nutritional issues, care from the primary care clinician's perspective, appropriate use of a multidisciplinary team, and issues of managed care and reimbursement.Primary prevention combined with early recognition and treatment helps decrease morbidity and mortality in adolescents with eating disorders.

    View details for Web of Science ID 000180135200016

    View details for PubMedID 12509603

  • Forensic assessment of illness falsification, Munchausen by proxy, and factitious disorder, NOS. Child maltreatment Sanders, M. J., Bursch, B. 2002; 7 (2): 112-124

    Abstract

    The purpose of this article is to propose guidelines for the evaluation of possible Munchausen by proxy child abuse for the court systems. These assessments require the evaluator to have an understanding of the complexity involved when this type of abuse is alleged. The evaluator should have an appreciation of how falsification of illness may or may not occur, recognize the need for careful analysis of medical records, and understand the problems associated with the use of a profile in determining the validity of an abuse allegation. This article presents guidelines for gathering pertinent data, analyzing records, and evaluating psychological testing for forensic evaluations when the questions for the evaluation are the following: (a) Is there evidence that child abuse did occur? (b) Does the alleged perpetrator meet criteria forfactitious disorder, NOS (or factitious disorder by proxy)? and (c) What management and treatment recommendations should be made?

    View details for PubMedID 12020067

  • Body dissatisfaction and dieting in young children INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS Schur, E. A., Sanders, M., Steiner, H. 2000; 27 (1): 74-82

    Abstract

    To develop a broader understanding of young children's knowledge and beliefs about dieting and body dissatisfaction.Sixty-two third through sixth-grade boys and girls completed audiotaped interviews and questionnaires regarding eating behavior, attitudes toward dieting, and body dissatisfaction.Fifty percent of all children wanted to weigh less and 16% reported attempting weight loss. Children were well informed about dieting and were most likely to believe that dieting meant changing food choices and exercising as opposed to restricting intake. Their primary source of information was the family. Seventy-seven percent of children mentioned hearing about dieting from a family member, usually a parent.Young children are knowledgeable about dieting and the concept of dieting does not necessarily mean caloric restriction to them. These data suggest that the family can play a powerful role in countering the development of eating concerns and body dissatisfaction in children.

    View details for Web of Science ID 000084531300008

    View details for PubMedID 10590451

  • SYMPTOM COACHING - FACTITIOUS DISORDER BY PROXY WITH OLDER CHILDREN SANDERS, M. J. PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. 1995: 423–42
  • A MODEL FOR MANAGING CLINICAL AND PERSONNEL ISSUES IN C-L PSYCHIATRY - THE DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRIC PSYCHIATRY AT CHILDRENS-HOSPITAL-AT-STANFORD PSYCHOSOMATICS Steiner, H., Sanders, M., CANNING, E. H., Litt, I. 1994; 35 (1): 73-79

    View details for Web of Science ID A1994MN51600009

    View details for PubMedID 8134532