Psychopathology and maternity

Thirty-one mothers hospitalised in a psychiatric institution were investigated to study the image and investment of their motherhood. The mothers have been divided in three groups, psychotic, borderline and neurotic. The image as well as the investment of motherhood are most positive in the group of neurotic mothers, whereas borderline mothers experience their motherhood most negatively. Several hypothesis have been brought forward in order to explain these results, referring more particularly to the structure of the personality of the borderline mother. Finally, these findings accentuate the importance of a pluri-disciplinary approach (psychiatrist, gynecologist, pediatrician) to prevent the adverse consequences of the mother's psychiatric disorders in the child.