Münchausen syndrome is a mental disorder in which an individual creates false or exaggerated symptoms of a medical condition in themselves to seek attention and sympathy from others. While Münchausen syndrome is a well-known term, there are several synonyms for this disorder. These include factitious disorder, fabricated illness, and hospital addiction syndrome. Another term is Münchausen syndrome by proxy, which refers to a rare form of the disorder in which a caregiver, often a parent, fabricates or induces medical symptoms in another person, usually a child, for attention and sympathy. Regardless of the name, these conditions can have serious consequences for both the individual and those around them.