Title |
Endocrinology and physiology of pseudocyesis
|
---|---|
Published in |
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, January 2013
|
DOI | 10.1186/1477-7827-11-39 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Juan J Tarín, Carlos Hermenegildo, Miguel A García-Pérez, Antonio Cano |
Abstract |
This literature review on pseudocyesis or false pregnancy aims to find epidemiological, psychiatric/psychologic, gynecological and endocrine traits associated with this condition in order to propose neuroendocrine/endocrine mechanisms leading to the emergence of pseudocyetic traits. Ten women from 5 selected studies were analyzed after applying stringent criteria to discriminate between cases of true pseudocyesis (pseudocyesis vera) versus delusional, simulated or erroneous pseudocyesis. The analysis of the reviewed studies evidenced that pseudocyesis shares many endocrine traits with both polycystic ovarian syndrome and major depressive disorder, although the endocrine traits are more akin to polycystic ovarian syndrome than to major depressive disorder. Data support the notion that pseudocyetic women may have increased sympathetic nervous system activity, dysfunction of central nervous system catecholaminergic pathways and decreased steroid feedback inhibition of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Although other neuroendocrine/endocrine pathways may be involved, the neuroendocrine/endocrine mechanisms proposed in this review may lead to the development of pseudocyetic traits including hypomenorrhea or amenorrhea, galactorrhea, diurnal and/or nocturnal hyperprolactinemia, abdominal distension and apparent fetal movements and labor pains at the expected date of delivery. |
Twitter Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Thailand | 1 | 13% |
United States | 1 | 13% |
Unknown | 6 | 75% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 7 | 88% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 13% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
India | 1 | 1% |
Germany | 1 | 1% |
Unknown | 81 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 16 | 19% |
Student > Postgraduate | 9 | 11% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 9 | 11% |
Researcher | 7 | 8% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 6 | 7% |
Other | 24 | 29% |
Unknown | 12 | 14% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 32 | 39% |
Psychology | 7 | 8% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 6 | 7% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 5 | 6% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 3 | 4% |
Other | 13 | 16% |
Unknown | 17 | 20% |