|
 |
| LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
|
| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 15
| Issue : 6 | Page : 951-952 |
|
|
Bizarre behaviors in delusional infertile woman; A letter to editor
Reza Bidaki1, Mina Bozorg2, Mahsa Motamed3, Sina Taherzadeh Boroujeni4, Leila Sadat Nouraddini5, Bonnie Bozorg6
1 Psychiatry Department, Research Center of Addiction and Behavioral Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
2 Clinical Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
3 Residence of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Psychiatrist, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5 Residence of Psychiatry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
6 Clinical Psychology, Department of Student Mental Health and Counseling Services, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| Date of Submission | 27-Nov-2021 |
| Date of Decision | 12-Feb-2022 |
| Date of Acceptance | 16-Feb-2022 |
| Date of Web Publication | 25-Apr-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
Mrs. Bonnie Bozorg
Clinical Psychology, Department of Student Mental Health and Counseling Services, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Iran
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/mjdrdypu.mjdrdypu_924_21
How to cite this article:
Bidaki R, Bozorg M, Motamed M, Boroujeni ST, Nouraddini LS, Bozorg B. Bizarre behaviors in delusional infertile woman; A letter to editor. Med J DY Patil Vidyapeeth 2022;15:951-2 |
How to cite this URL:
Bidaki R, Bozorg M, Motamed M, Boroujeni ST, Nouraddini LS, Bozorg B. Bizarre behaviors in delusional infertile woman; A letter to editor. Med J DY Patil Vidyapeeth [serial online] 2022 [cited 2023 Jan 30];15:951-2. Available from: https://www.mjdrdypv.org/text.asp?2022/15/6/951/343841 |
Dear editor
”False pregnancy” can be described as a false belief of being pregnant despite factual evidence to the contrary. This can accompany by showing actual symptoms of pregnancy such as duration shortening and hypermenorrhea or and amenorrhea in rare conditions.
In a study conducted by Tarin et al., it was shown that the activity of the sympathetic system in these women is increased, and the feedback system of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone is defective.[1]
In a review study, it was shown that possible etiology includes biological factors, psychological, and social factors and psychiatric disorders comorbidities.[2]
Physiological and clinical manifestations include amenorrhea, abdominal distension, fetus movements sensations, milk secretion from breasts and darkening of the areola, weight gain, nausea, vomiting, changes in uterus and cervix appearance, changes in breast size and shape.[3]
A rural 33-year-old woman with low socio-economic status was referred to the gynecologic ward to give birth. At the time, she had no children and gave the history of two miscarriages in the past. She also had a history of depression, and in her medical history, she mentioned the use of levothyroxine due to hypothyroidism.
The patient claimed to have evidence that she was pregnant. The gynecologist was surprised because her file prenatal record and the maternal records showed the details of the existence of a fetus that belonged to her office but had not been completed by the physician.
One conclusion that can be made is that she had a mistrust of physicians considered as “persecutory delusion.” The family reacted to the situation with anger and wrath. After the visit by Liaison psychiatrist, the patient was being prescribed Sertraline and Risperidone.
Furthermore, the patient had symptoms of depression due to a number of family problems and marital discord. Sertraline tablet 50 mg/day was prescribed. Consent form was obtained from patient.
One study showed that pseudocyesis is more common in low-income communities, where women are not usually well trained by physicians.[4] According to Oguntoyinbo et al., it was suggested that in the case of antipsychotic administration, a type should be used that causes the least hyperprolactinemia and menstrual problems.[5]
In this case, there were numerous dilemmas about whether or not to become pregnant, despair and hopelessness due to a positive family history of infertility about sister, involvement of others, lack of proper emotional support from the spouse and low self-esteem.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Tarín JJ, Hermenegildo C, García-Pérez MA, Cano A. Endocrinology and physiology of pseudocyesis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2013;11:39.  |
| 2. | Seeman MV. Pseudocyesis, delusional pregnancy, and psychosis: The birth of a delusion. World J Clin Cases 2014;2:338-44. |
| 3. | Qureshi NA. Delusional pregnancy. Indian J Psychiatry 1999;41:384. [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
| 4. | Ouj U. Pseudocyesis in a rural southeast Nigerian community. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2009;35:660-5. |
| 5. | Oguntoyinbo AE, Aboyeji AP. Clinical pattern of gynecological/early pregnancy complaints and the outcome of pelvic sonography in a private diagnostic center in Ilorin. Niger J Clin Pract 2011;14:223-7. [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
|
Search Pubmed for