Pseudocyesis in a case of sexual assault-A rare case report & review of psychosocial & medical factors in literature

Delusion of pregnancy can be described as a false and fixed belief of being pregnant despite factual evidence to the contrary. An unmarried 32 year old woman was brought for medical examination to the department of Forensic Medicine at Burdwan Medical College by the police with the allegations that the accused had physical relationship with her with a promise for marriage which had led to the current pregnancy. After clinical examination and preliminary test of urine for pregnancy, conducted at the Gynae & Obs department, which came negative, the patient was sent for USG examination to the Radiology Department for confirmation of pregnancy. The USG report did not reveal any pregnancy. The patient was referred back to the department of Forensic Medicine for medico-legal examination, the next day. On the day of the second examination, it was found that an old healed tear was present in the hymen. These findings and the review of the literature show us that in some cases where the underlying cause for development of such psychiatric disorder is known, it can help to formulate the management of such sexual assault victims in a more humane manner and better clinical outcome of the aforesaid victims can be expected by treating the underlying factors.