Fertility and Psychiatric Morbidity *

Abstract

This paper reviews the literature concerning the fertility of those with psychological illness. Conflicting views have been presented over the last hundred years, but more recent and better designed surveys show more consistent results. These demonstrate with reference to psychotics that schizophrenics, but not manic-depressives, have fewer children than control population groups. There is no consistent evidence yet that those with neurosis and personality disorder have reduced fertility, although there is a suggestion that infertile women are more likely to have a personality disturbance than fertile controls. Further well-controlled population surveys are needed in this neglected field.