Denial of pregnancy: A case study and literature review

Abstract

A case is presented of a young active duty woman who experienced nonpsychotic denial of pregnancy until she precipitously delivered a healthy full-term infant. Despite the lack of prenatal care and the requirement for neonatal resuscitation, the child has apparently developed normally. The woman had no ongoing psychiatric illness. She was able to make appropriate use of medical, nursing, and social work resources to function well with her child at home. The recent literature on denial of pregnancy is reviewed, and the clinical differences between nonpsychotic and psychotic denial of pregnancy are described. Clinical management and mobilization of social support structures can improve the chances of successful clinical outcomes in nonpsychotic denial of pregnancy.