Munchausen syndrome

American  

[muhn-chou-zuhn sin-drohm, muhnch-hou-zuhn] / ˈmʌnˌtʃaʊ zən ˌsɪn droʊm, ˈmʌntʃˌhaʊ zən /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. a factitious disorder in which otherwise healthy individuals seek to hospitalize themselves with feigned or self-induced pathology in order to receive surgical or other medical treatment.

---

Etymology

Origin of Munchausen syndrome

1950–55; named after Baron von Münchhausen ( def. ), whose fictionalized accounts of his own experiences suggest symptoms of the disorder

Example Sentences

The company aims to make up for the shortfall through fast sales growth of its Kerendia drug for kidney disease, Nubeqa for prostate cancer and Lynkuet for menopause symptoms.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

According to the British Menopause Society, 45% of women felt their menopause symptoms had a negative impact on their work.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

Participants completed questionnaires about menopause symptoms, mental health, sleep patterns, and overall health.

From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2026

The hormone estradiol could also be used to alleviate menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, and progesterone could be used to protect the uterine lining and improve sleep quality.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 15, 2025

These superadded physical symptoms can be readily relieved by directions for rational living and then the genuine menopause symptoms may be so diminished as to be scarcely noticeable.

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)