Obstetric care and proneness of offspring to suicide as adults: case
EDITOR–Even before Jacobson and Bygdeman related obstetric care and
proneness of offspring to suicide as adults (1), Jacobson et al (2) wrote
that the “notion that a traumatic birth is of importance for suicide
proneness is not new “. They attributed the origin of the term “trauma of
birth” to psychoanalyst O. Rank. I want to point that S. Freud in 1909
edition of his book “The Interpretation of Dreams” added
to a footnote: “Moreover, the act of birth is the first experience of
anxiety, and thus the source and prototype of the affect of anxiety” (3).
Also, eight years later, Freud (4) wrote how a gynaecologist told him what
had happened at the examination for midwives. When a candidate was asked
about meconium in the amniotic water at birth, she replied
that ‘it means the child’s frightened’. Winicott (5) in 1948 published a
number of ideas which can corroborate the Jacobson and Bygdeman
conclusion. I cite only one :”…(trauma of birth) means a temporary loss of
identity.” He believed that this provided a basis for “…even a congenital
(but not inherited) hopelessness in respect of the attainment
of a personal life.” Also, already in 1942, a British gynaecologist G.
Read (cf. 5) also believed that psychology of an individual could be
studied at the time of birth, and that the experiences at this early time
are significant.
Ivan Buzov, psychiatrist
KBC-KZPM, Kispaticeva 12, Zagreb, Croatia
1 Jacobson B, Bygdeman M. Obstetric care and proneness of offspring
to suicide as adults: case-control study. BMJ 1998;317:1346-9.(14
November)
3 Freud S. 1900. The interpretation of dreams. London: The Hogarth Press,
1953, p. 400.
4 Freud S. 1917. Introductory lectures on psycho-analysis. Part:
III.London: The Hogarth Press, 1963, p. 397.
5 Winnicott DW. 1949. Birth memories, birth trauma, and anxiety. In:
Winnicott DW. Through pediatrics to psycho-analysis. London: The Hogarth
Press, 1975. p. 174-93.
Rapid Response:
Obstetric care and proneness of offspring to suicide as adults: case
EDITOR–Even before Jacobson and Bygdeman related obstetric care and
proneness of offspring to suicide as adults (1), Jacobson et al (2) wrote
that the “notion that a traumatic birth is of importance for suicide
proneness is not new “. They attributed the origin of the term “trauma of
birth” to psychoanalyst O. Rank. I want to point that S. Freud in 1909
edition of his book “The Interpretation of Dreams” added
to a footnote: “Moreover, the act of birth is the first experience of
anxiety, and thus the source and prototype of the affect of anxiety” (3).
Also, eight years later, Freud (4) wrote how a gynaecologist told him what
had happened at the examination for midwives. When a candidate was asked
about meconium in the amniotic water at birth, she replied
that ‘it means the child’s frightened’. Winicott (5) in 1948 published a
number of ideas which can corroborate the Jacobson and Bygdeman
conclusion. I cite only one :”…(trauma of birth) means a temporary loss of
identity.” He believed that this provided a basis for “…even a congenital
(but not inherited) hopelessness in respect of the attainment
of a personal life.” Also, already in 1942, a British gynaecologist G.
Read (cf. 5) also believed that psychology of an individual could be
studied at the time of birth, and that the experiences at this early time
are significant.
Ivan Buzov, psychiatrist
KBC-KZPM, Kispaticeva 12, Zagreb, Croatia
1 Jacobson B, Bygdeman M. Obstetric care and proneness of offspring
to suicide as adults: case-control study. BMJ 1998;317:1346-9.(14
November)
2 Jacobson B, Eklund G, Linnarsson D, Sedvall G, Valverius M. Perinatal
origin of adult self-destructive behavior. Acta Psychiatr Scand
1987;76:364-371.
3 Freud S. 1900. The interpretation of dreams. London: The Hogarth Press,
1953, p. 400.
4 Freud S. 1917. Introductory lectures on psycho-analysis. Part:
III.London: The Hogarth Press, 1963, p. 397.
5 Winnicott DW. 1949. Birth memories, birth trauma, and anxiety. In:
Winnicott DW. Through pediatrics to psycho-analysis. London: The Hogarth
Press, 1975. p. 174-93.
Competing interest: None
Competing interests: No competing interests