Pseudocyesis - where is my fetus? A case report of false pregnancy

Abstract

A 32-year-old housewife, married, single child to her parents, studied till Bachelor in commerce, hailing from a nuclear family, with well-adjusted premorbid personality, with significant family history of loss of both parents in her early life and being raised by her maternal aunt, with history of multiple failed attempts to conceive naturally and a failed IVF, consulted us following the resolution of her false belief regarding her pregnancy, seeking medication and counselling. Patient had probable signs of pregnancy including enlarged abdomen, weight gain, morning sickness and apparent fetal movements for 12 months with GPE and systemic examinations revealing no absolute signs of pregnancy. And MSE revealing falsely harboured thoughts of having been pregnant during the last 12-13 months which resolved after crossing the expected gestation period. In this case, the patient had introjected the repeated failed attempts to conceive naturally and loss of loved object (namely, her birth father and mother) into her false belief. This patient is unique in having features of both delusion of pregnancy and pseudocyesis as she didn't have some of the symptoms seen in typical pseudocyesis, like presence of regular menstrual cycles.