Munchhausen syndrome

Munchhausen syndrome Recurrent feigning of catastrophic illnesses. Some patients with Munchhausen syndrome actually cause their own illness, as by secretly drinking or injecting substances. Munchhausen syndrome may be caused by a misdirected desire for attention, although in some cases it arises in actual psychiatric illness. It is named for the fictitious Baron Munchhausen, who told tall tales. See also body dysmorphic disorder; hypochondria; Munchhausen by proxy.