Delusion of triplet pregnancy in abdominal cavity: A case report with a review of literature

• Main Authors: Shri Gopal Goyal, Ananya Mahapatra, Priti Kumari Goyal, Sudhir Kumar Khandelwal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2017-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine
• Subjects: Delusion of pregnancy; pseudopregnancy; schizophrenia
• Online Access: http://www.ijpm.info/article.asp?issn=0253-7176;year=2017;volume=39;issue=4;spage=509;epage=511;aulast=Goyal

The two terms, pseudocyesis and delusion of pregnancy, were frequently used for pseudopregnancy. Delusion of pregnancy is a special form of hypochondriacal/somatic delusion reported in various psychiatric and organic disorders. The origin of the delusion of pregnancy in schizophrenia has often been explained by psycho-analytic interpretations attributing wish fulfilling, protective role to false beliefs, and mother establishes an undisturbed union with her fetus during pregnancy, which eliminate loneliness and helplessness. The current case is a 49-year-old married female with an illness of total duration of 10 years. Initial symptoms were delusion of infidelity and persecution and 2nd and 3rd person auditory hallucination; however, the patient started reporting around 2 years back that she was pregnant and there were three female children inside her abdominal cavity rather than in uterus. She was firm on this belief and was not convinced by family members even giving evidence contrary to her belief like showing ultrasonography report. She firmly believed that these are gift of God, and they are special children who would be delivered through special procedure. Blood investigation revealed raised prolactin level, blood sugar and ultra sonography suggestive of cholelithisis. Patient's psychiatric symptoms including delusion of pregnancy were significantly improved with treatment, and medical and surgical comorbidities were managed with appropriate consultations.