Sexually deviant behavior in expectant fathers.

A group of 91 expectant fathers examined in a court psychiatric clinic is compared with a group of 91 nonexpectant married males equated for age, race, and year of arrest. The hypothesis that sexually deviant reactions are more frequent in expectant fathers is statistically substantiated. Other findings are reported and discussed including the frequent occurrence of sexual offenses during the wife's 1st pregnancy. Pregnancy has long been recognized as a stress period for the mother. Symptoms commonly reported include emotional lability, mild depressions (maternity blues), flightiness, hostility toward the husband, and various forms of regressive behavior. In approximately one out of every 400 pregnancies and childbirths a psychotic reaction occurs. It is estimated that 10-15 % of these psychotic