Delusion of pregnancy: Conception in brain

Abstract

Delusional disorders are common psychiatric disorders, but a delusion of pregnancy is a rare condition. Four cases that presented at a single tertiary care psychiatry center with delusion of pregnancy as a part of different psychological disorders are illustrated here. These cases were seen over a period of 6 months and had varied presentations and associated psychopathologies. Three of the four patients showed rapid recovery to treatment, but one patient was lost to follow-up. The heterogeneity in the presentation, sociodemographic profile of the patients and even in the symptom profile and response to treatment in this condition is highlighted and discussed in this case series.

Keywords

• artificial reproductive technique
• bipolar affective disorder
• delusion
• delusional disorder
• pregnancy
• pseudocyesis
• pseudopregnancy
• schizophrenia
• somatic delusion