Reports of comorbid eating disorders and Munchausen's syndrome are rare. As part of a follow-up study of the outcome of anorexia nervosa, medical records and direct structured psychiatric interview data were collected on all women treated for anorexia nervosa in Christchurch, New Zealand between I98 I -7 984. On interview, one participant received diagnoses of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and factitious disorder (Munchausen's syndrome). The subject interwove symptoms of her eating disorders with factitious presentations on several occasions. This diagnosis had not been apparent prior to compilation of all medical records. 0 7 996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Case reports of comorbid eating disorders and Munchausen's syndrome are rare (Burge & Lacey, 1993). Munchausen's syndrome (Asher, 1951)' the historical term for factitious disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), is marked by intentional feigning of physical or psychological signs or symptoms motivated by the desire to assume the sick role. The following case outlines a complicated history of Munchausen's with feigning of both physical and psychological signs and symptoms. In addition, the subject of this case report displayed frank anorexia and bulimia nervosa and employed the vomiting associated with bulimia as part of a presenting complaint for medical admissions.
Methods
All women who were treated for anorexia nervosa in Christchurch between 1981-1984 were invited to participate in a study of the outcome of anorexia nervosa. This study was