Psychotherapy as Adjunct in Treatment of Vomiting During Pregnancy

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Abstract
Adjunctive psychotherapeutic measures were used to treat ten consecutive pregnant women referred to a psychiatric consultation service because of severe intractable vomiting. In addition to customary medical measures, they received three types of psychotherapy: (1) supportive psychotherapy (establishment of positive relationship, frequent reassuring conversations, and encouragement of expression of thoughts and feelings); (2) hypnotherapy (trance induction and suggestions of comfort in the gastrointestinal tract, desirability of feeling of substance in stomach, and ability to retain and digest food eaten); and (3) behavior modification (positive reinforcement for retaining food and gaining weight, through granting desirable considerations such as visitors, radio, television, and being up in or outside the room). Results were encouraging. Nine patients recovered and completed normal pregnancies, while one improved but later aborted due to other complications. When compared with a control group of routinely treated patients, recovery was more rapid.

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