Münchausen syndrome is a
psychiatric factitious disorder wherein those affected feign
disease, illness, or
psychological trauma to draw
attention or
sympathy to themselves. It is also sometimes known as
hospital addiction syndrome or
hospital hopper syndrome. Nurses and Doctors sometimes refer to them as
frequent flyers, because they return to the hospital just as frequent flyers return to the airport. However, there is discussion to reclassify them as
somatoform disorder in the
DSM-5 as it is unclear whether or not people are conscious of drawing attention to themselves.[SUP]
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Münchausen syndrome is related to
Münchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP/MSP), which refers to the
abuse of another being, typically a child, in order to seek attention or sympathy for the abuser.