Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-fwgfc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-11T15:46:16.178Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Dissociative fugue of the patient of maternity ward - A case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

M. Załuska
Affiliation:
IV Department of Psychiatry, The Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
R. Żurko
Affiliation:
IV Department of Psychiatry, The Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
M. Kuroń
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Bielański Hospital in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
G. Jakiel
Affiliation:
The Department of Obstetric and Ginecology, The Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
A. Dudel
Affiliation:
The Department of Obstetric and Ginecology, The Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Introduction

Mothers after childbearing are vulnerable to many stress related disorders.

Objective

to emphasize the role of the past obstetric complications, as so present infant pathology as risk factors for the mother's post partum stress related disorders.

Methods

The case analysis.

Case description

The thirty-year-old, women left the maternity ward with her baby unnoticed on the fourth day after giving birth. She was referred to psychiatry ward, after finding her by the police. In the past history the patient had spontaneous miscarriage in the first pregnancy. She has waited with her husband 6 years long for the next baby. The second pregnancy was at risk, the labor was premature and the infant has palatoschisis. The mother had difficulties with feeding. She feared about baby's life, and had feeling of being neglected by the staff. In psychiatry ward she did not reveal any symptoms of mental illness. She was interested in her child, however the period of the flight was covered with memory gap. The predominance of immature defense mechanisms, as so mild cognitive dysfunctions were revealed in psychological testing. The dissociative fugue was diagnosed. The patient was discharged without any medication to ambulatory psychotherapy.

Commentary

The interaction of past and present traumatic experiences in the patient with cognitive dysfunctions and immature defense mechanisms could impair ability of post-partum coping with fear about the child and consequently led to the loss of conscious control over the memory. Early diagnosing and supporting problematic patients of the maternity ward is needed.

Type
P01-407
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association2011
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.