Introduction, R. Plassmann; Munchhausen syndromes and factitious diseases, R. Plassmann; diagnosis and classification of factitious disorder with operational diagnostic systems, H.J. Freyberger and W. Schneider; an internist's view of patients with factitious disorders and factitious clinical symptomatology, J.P. Nordmeyer; factitious disorders in the field of surgery, G.H. Paar; factitious disorders in the field of neurology and psychiatry, A. Eckhardt; syndromes related to factitious diseases, M. Hirsch; diagnosis of narcissistic self-esteem regulation in patients with factitious illness (Munchhausen syndrome), W. Ehlers; the body as a transitional object, M. Hirsch; overt self-injury, U. Sachsse; structural disturbances in the body self, R. Plassmann; inpatient and outpatient long-term psychotherapy of patients suffering from factitious disorders, R. Plassmann; patients suffering from factitious disorders in the clinico-psychosomatic consultation liaison service - psychodynamic processes, psychotherapeutic initial care and clinicointerdisciplinary cooperation, H. Freyberger et al; the biography of the factitious-disorder patient, R. Plassmann; countertransference in factitious disorder, H. Willenberg; excerpt from the treatment of a patient with otitis externa artefacta, G.H. Paar.