Pseudocyesis Associated with Folie à Deux

Abstract

A case of a mother and daughter who both believed in their own pregnancy and that of the other is described.

Hyperprolactinemia and Delusion of Pregnancy

“…Neuro-leptic-induced hyperprolactinemia, galactorrhea and/or amenorrhea, urinary tract infection [27] ; intestinal dilatation; and 'couvade-like physiological sensations' [23] may simulate, confirm or reinforce the belief of being pregnant [5,23,25,27,28] . Other factors like cultural influences [29,30] , spending time with pregnant women [9] , poor sexual adjustment [6] , past sexual abuse [31] , recently increased body weight, acute loneliness and real/ imagined loss of relationship [3] might similarly predispose the patient to developing these ideas.…”

Behavioral Characteristics in Delusional Pregnancy: A Matched Control Group Study

“…Although Pseudocyesis vera and delusional pregnancy have been thought of as two separate diagnostic entities, in reality it appears that these variations of false pregnancy are not always easily separated into mutually exclusive categories. Milner and Hayes [11] report a case of folie a deux psychosis with delusion of pregnancy in which amenorrhea had occurred but the degree of thought disorder spread beyond the delusion of pregnancy to more generalized paranoid delusions. Shiwach and Dudley [12] provide a case report of a woman with schizophrenia having delusions of pregnancy accompanied by amenorrhea and galactorrhea.…”

Delusions of Pregnancy in Saudi Arabia: A Socio-Cultural Perspective

“…There are very few reported cases of delusions of multiple pregnancies and births (Chengappa et al, 1989). The delusion may persist for a few days (Michael et al, 1994) or for many years (de Pauw, 1990;Milner & Hayes, 1990).…”

“…amenorrhoea or hypomenorrhoea), abdominal enlargement (without effacement of the umbilicus in contrast to normal pregnancy), breast changes similar to those in pregnancy, apparent fetal movements, softening of the cervix with signs of congestion, nausea, vomiting and weight gain (Cohen, 1982;Hardwick & Fitzpatrick, 1981). Although symptoms of the gravid state are necessary for the diagnosis of pseudocyesis (Hardwick & Fitzpatrick, 1981), they are not its sole determinants (Bitton et al, 1991;de Pauw, 1990;Milner & Hayes, 1990). Pseudocyesis may, or may not, be associated with infertility (Fried, Rakoff, Schopbach, & Kaplan, 1951;Lapido, 1979).…”