Because of the pathological intensity of the relationship to her mother, a patient experienced ovulation with panic. The hostile and destructive content of the preoedipal relationship was manifested in her symptoms and in her dreams, and followed the menstrual cycle. The possibility of becoming pregnant had a sinister connotation which the patient tried to deny. Another patient, who showed less intense hostility in this basic relationship with the mother, was able to make reparations; thus, being pregnant was a way of undoing the negative and destructive aspect of the bad mother. Also in this case changes in mood, the