The couvade syndrome in western society has psychodynamic similarities with the couvade rites, in primitive cultures earlier reported by anthropologists. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report in the Dutch medical literature, on three Dutch males with a spectrum of psychopathology during and/or after their wife's pregnancy.

Knowledge and awareness of the occurrence and manifestations of mental illness during expectant or young fatherhood is important for the recognition and management of psychopathology in males.