(1967). International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 48:288-296
During the initial twelve-month period of the Harlem Hospital Adult Female Psychiatric Service, pregnancy phenomena played an important role in the events precipitating admissions. Indeed, the content of the chief complaints of approximately thirty per cent of those who were admitted focused on this issue. Another striking observation was that pregnancy was a major factor in the reorganizing and reparative manoeuvres of many patients. The opportunity to study this area intensively occurred when a patient who had conceived six times previously developed a spurious pregnancy as she reintegrated from an acute psychotic state. In this paper we will deal with the dynamic understanding of this woman who had a recurrent wish to live in a pregnant state. In addition, we will review the pertinent literature on the subject and will join our findings with those of other investigators in order to clarify and organize the conscious and unconscious motivational factors that lead to the ne [This is a summary or excerpt from the full text of the book or article. The full text of the document is available to subscribers.] |
