A syndrome describes a number of signs or symptoms that occur together, like Down's syndrome. The word derives from the Greek syndromos which is a place where several roads meet. Diagnosing a syndrome relies on pattern recognition, recall and interpretation and is a staple of medical education and consistently shows up as "gotcha" questions on specialty board exams.

If you spend time in the startup or entrepreneurial world, you are likely to encounter practitioners who exhibit syndromes with common symptoms:

1. Founder's syndrome
2. Craniorectal inversion syndrome
3. Wounded wallet syndrome
4. Narcissism syndrome
5. Linkedout syndrome
6. Imposter syndrome
7. The non-innocent bystander syndrome
8. Disruptive doctor syndrome
9. Physician investor syndrome
10. Lousy business person syndrome
11. Avoidant attachment syndrome
12. Grumpy doctor syndrome

Like most syndromes, these are difficult to diagnose, hard to treat and often require a multidisciplinary approach. But, at least you'll get the question right on your entrepreneurial board exam.

Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA is the President and CEO of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs and on Twitter@ArlenMD.