Munchhausen's syndrome in urology.

Munchhausen's syndrome (MHS) is classed among the self-manipulated diseases but frequently is 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 "haemorrhagic 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 is 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.