Dissociation : Vol. 4, No. 2, p. 065-073 : Unawareness and denial of pregnancy in patients with MPD
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Date
1991-06
Authors
Hart, Onno van der, 1941-
Faure, Henri
Gerven, Marko van
Goodwin, Jean, 1946-
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Multiple Personality and Dissociation
Abstract
In female MPD patients, sexual intercourse and pregnancy are experiences of which only one or a few alter personalities may be aware. When the host personality is amnestic for these dissociated functions, severe complications may arise both for the affected woman and those
around her. When the amnesia is lifted, the personalities involved may experience pregnancy and delivery as traumatic, and motherchild attachment may be severely hampered. This paper describes
four case examples illustrating these complications. Two of them are classic 19th Century cases, Bellanger'.s (1854) Madame de B. and Azam 's (1887) Felida X. The fact that in the 1854 case it was the treating physician who fathered the child dramatically illustrates Kluft's recent observations that these patients run the risk of sexual abuse by their psychotherapists and other health care professionals. The discussion section deals with: (1) Pierre Janet's views on
unawareness and denial in MPD, as illustrated in sexual intercourse, pregnancy, and delivery; (2) the so-called partus stress rearlion, for which MPD patients with a childhood history of sexual
abuse may be at risk; (3) trauma-induced psychotic reactions to delivery; (4) techniques for supporting patients with these issues; and (5) sexual abuse of MPD patients by therapists.
Description
p. 065-073