Emotional Settings of Functional Amenorrhea

Abstract

The psychological and physiological aspects of functional amenorrhea are surveyed, the literature is briefly reviewed, and 6 cases are presented to illustrate different aspects of the problem. The cases are compared and contrasted as regards the emotional setting of onset of amenorrhea and the emotional setting of the return of menses. The findings on endocrinological examination are considered in an attempt to clarify the psychosomatic mechanism of the return of menstrual function. The amenorrheas encountered in pseudocyesis and anorexia nervosa are briefly discussed in their relationship to other forms of functional amenorrhea.