The paper deals with the problem of pretended somatic or mental disorders and possible mecha- nisms of development of this nosological unit. The authors emphasize obscure points in the etiopathogenesis and deal with the role of counter-transfer of the therapist and the necessity of a positive approach to these patiens. Case-reports from the Institute of Rheumatology in Prague provide evidence of diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties, which may be associated with pretended disorders for doctors of different specialities.

        Key words: pretended disorders, factitive disorders, Münchhausen’s syndrome