pseudocyesis patient report

This report presents a case study in which the patient was referred for evaluation of pseudocyetic symptoms, but depression was judged to be the underlying problem. Antidepressant therapy was instituted and found to be effective in ameliorating the pseudocyetic symptoms.

Full Answer

What is the clinical presentation of pseudocyesis?

The clinical presentation of pseudocyesis has both psychological and physiological aspects. Affected women are not pregnant but maintain a belief that they are pregnant even after pregnancy has been ruled out. Women with pseudocyesis also have one or more of the following signs or symptoms:

What are some of the most famous cases of pseudocyesis?

Queen Mary's case must be the most famous on record and also the best documented by means of the serial bulletins issued for her loyal subjects concerning the progress of her royal pregnancy (A). The editor can remember only 1 case of ‘late pregnancy’ pseudocyesis in 40 years of obstetric practice.

What are the treatment options for pseudocyesis?

They may suggest emotional support and/or psychotherapy to help treat pseudocyesis. One of the successful methods of ending pseudocyesis is to show women evidence of the absence of a fetus, with the help of imaging techniques such as an ultrasound.

Is pseudocyesis a real disorder?

This person is not on ResearchGate, or hasn't claimed this research yet. Pseudocyesis is a disorder that is rarely encountered in psychiatric practice. It is characterized by numerous signs and symptoms of pregnancy, except for confirmation of the presence of a fetus.

Is pseudocyesis a mental illness?

Pseudocyesis is a rare condition defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5), as when a person has a false belief of being pregnant, accompanied by objective signs and symptoms of pregnancy, which may include abdominal enlargement, oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea, subjective sensation of ...

What is the main treatment of patients with pseudocyesis?

They may suggest emotional support and/or psychotherapy to help treat pseudocyesis. One of the successful methods of ending pseudocyesis is to show women evidence of the absence of a fetus, with the help of imaging techniques such as an ultrasound.

How is pseudocyesis diagnosed?

To determine whether a woman is experiencing a false pregnancy, the doctor will usually evaluate their symptoms, perform a pelvic exam and abdominal ultrasound -- the same tests used to feel and visualize the unborn baby during a normal pregnancy.

How long can pseudocyesis last?

Treating a false pregnancy is very difficult since it is a delicate situation, it is not necessarily a medical problem but more psychological where symptoms can last anywhere from a few weeks to the whole 9 months, to even years.

Can false pregnancy test positive?

It's possible to have a positive pregnancy test even if you aren't technically pregnant. This is called a false positive. It's sometimes caused by a chemical pregnancy. A chemical pregnancy occurs if a fertilized egg, known as the embryo, is unable to implant, or grow, very early on.

How do you deal with false pregnancy?

Possible treatments for phantom pregnancy include:Psychotherapy.Clinical tests that disprove pregnancy.Medications such as antidepressants or antipsychotics.Hormonal therapy.Uterine dilation and curettage (D&C)

What are the signs of false pregnancy?

Other symptoms can be just as difficult to distinguish from those experienced during an actual pregnancy, and can include:morning sickness and vomiting.tender breasts.changes to the breasts, including size and pigmentation.lactation.weight gain.labor pains.inverted bellybutton.increased appetite.More items...•

What are the signs of hidden pregnancy?

Often, women with a cryptic pregnancy do not experience typical symptoms of pregnancy, such as: nausea. missed periods. abdominal swelling....Doctors separate nonpsychotic cryptic pregnancy into three categories:pervasive.affective.persistent.

What causes pseudo pregnancy?

It can be caused by trauma (either physical or mental), a chemical imbalance of hormones, and some medical conditions. Contributing psychological factors include a strong desire for pregnancy or misinterpretation of objective bodily sensations.

Is Prega News always correct?

Key Benefits. With a 99% accuracy rate, the Prega News result is correct most of the time (in some rare cases, if the test is taken too early in the pregnancy you might get a negative result, in that case, retake the test at a later date).

Can stress cause false pregnancy symptoms?

This hormone imbalance is often sparked by stress and anxiety, which in turn causes the emotional and psychological shifts that lead a woman to falsely believe she is expecting.

Why do I feel pregnant but not?

The same body system and hormones are involved, so it makes sense. Rising levels of progesterone during PMS can cause symptoms that mimic pregnancy to a T, whether it's tender breasts, a ravenous appetite, mild cramping, moodiness and fatigue, spotting, or even nausea.

What is a pseudocyesis?

Pseudocyesis is a rare disorder that affects all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic groups [ 2,3 ]. It is most common in women aged 20 to 39 years, but has been described in premenarchal and postmenopausal women.

What is pseudodocyesis in medical terms?

INTRODUCTION. Pseudocyesis (false pregnancy ) has captured the imagination of both clinicians and nonclinicians for centuries, and has been featured in multiple books, movies, and television shows. In this rare clinical syndrome, a nonpregnant, nonpsychotic woman believes she is pregnant and exhibits signs and symptoms of pregnancy.

Is pseudocyesis a clinical presentation?

CLINICAL PRESENTATION. The clinical presentation of pseudocyesis has both psychological and physiological aspects. Affected women are not pregnant but maintain a belief that they are pregnant even after pregnancy has been ruled out. Women with pseudocyesis also have one or more of the following signs or symptoms:

Is pseudocyesis a predisposition to fertility?

Although accurate prevalence figures are not available, pseudocyesis has been posited to occur more frequently in cultures where childbearing is the central role of women and fertility is a prerequisite for marriage or for a stable relationship.

What are the symptoms of pseudocyesis?

Women with pseudocyesis may also experience other pregnancy-like symptoms including: Tender breasts. Missed periods. Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting) Changes in pigmentation and size of breasts. Weight gain.

What is a pseudocyesis?

Pseudocyesis is a rare somatic symptom disorder where a non-pregnant and non-psychotic woman thinks she is pregnant. Women with this condition experience all the typical symptoms of pregnancy, such as weight gain, morning sickness, a growing belly, irritability, urinary frequency, breast changes, and breast tenderness, ...

How to stop pseudocysis?

They may suggest emotional support and/or psychotherapy to help treat pseudocyesis. One of the successful methods of ending pseudocyesis is to show women evidence of the absence of a fetus, with the help of imaging techniques such as an ultrasound. Pseudocyesis is a rare occurrence. Symptoms and signs of a typical pregnancy ...

Why do women have pseudocyesis?

The most common cause of pseudocyesis is that the woman has such an intense desire to be pregnant that she convinces herself she is. In some cases, women who have phantom pregnancy have experienced some type of emotional trauma, poverty, or sexual abuse in the past.

Why is it so hard to treat a false pregnancy?

It may be difficult to treat a false pregnancy because it is considered to be a psychological condition. One of the successful methods of ending pseudocyesis is to show women evidence of the absence of a fetus with the help of imaging techniques such as an ultrasound.

How many women reported false pregnancy in 1940?

In the 1940s, 1 out of every 250 pregnant women reported a false pregnancy. This number has reduced to between 1 and 6 out of 22,000 pregnant women reporting pseudocyesis. The incidence of false pregnancy has become very rare in countries where women have easy access to reliable pregnancy tests. Certain cultures associate a woman’s worth ...

Who first reported a false pregnancy?

The first written account of a false pregnancy was given by Hippocrates in 300 BC. A famous example of a woman from history with pseudocyesis is Mary Tudor. However, instances of phantom pregnancy have reduced significantly in the United States over the past century.