Childbirth-related psychosis and familial symbiotic conflict.
The authors present 3 cases of childbirth-related psychosis in young women to illustrate an interpersonal psychodynamic pattern that may contribute to such reactions. In each instance, the woman is the submissive partner in a symbiotic relationship with her husband and/or mother. The baby's presence threatens the symbiotic equilibrium of these relationships and leads to the dominant partner's overt or covert aggression against the woman, which precipitates the psychosis. A personal or family history of psychosis may increase the woman's vulnerability to becoming psychotic in this situation.
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009769:Object Attachment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology