Urological aspects of Munchausen's syndrome.

Abstract

Munchausen's syndrome (MHS) is classed among the self-manipulated disease but is frequently not recognized as such. Patients suffering from MHS successfully obtain repeated invasive diagnostic management by the permanent presentation of various symptoms especially in the surgical branches of medicine. In urology, the 'hemorrhagic type', the 'abdominal type' and the 'neurological type' are predominant. In the course of his 'history' the MHS patient shows definite organic lesions as a result of numerous artificial and iatrogenic procedures. Consequently, diagnosis gets more and more difficult. In the majority of cases psychotherapy ends after few psychiatric interviews in the initial stage of therapy. Increasing somatic lesions are predominant.