Related Experiment Videos
Delusions of pregnancy
A Michael1, A Joseph, A Pallen
1Department of Psychological Medicine, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London.
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|February 1, 1994
Summary
Delusions of pregnancy, a rare symptom, were observed in five patients, with three women and four individuals experiencing chronic schizophrenia. This highlights the need for increased clinical awareness of this condition.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Delusions of pregnancy, a rare psychiatric symptom, are characterized by the fixed false belief of being pregnant.
- This condition can occur in various psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia.
Observation:
- The study reports on five cases presenting with delusions of pregnancy.
- Among these cases, three were women, and four individuals had a diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia.
Findings:
- Delusions of pregnancy were observed in a small cohort, suggesting it may not be as rare as previously assumed.
- A significant proportion of the observed cases were associated with chronic schizophrenia.
Implications:
- Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for delusions of pregnancy, even in non-psychotic individuals.
- Further research is warranted to understand the prevalence and underlying mechanisms of delusions of pregnancy in different psychiatric populations.