Women's Health Medicine
Volume 3, Issue 2 , Pages 74-77, March 2006

Psychiatric medications for childbearing women

  • Angelika Wieck, FRCPsych

      Affiliations

    • Angelika Wieck FRCPsych is Consultant and Lead Clinician for the Northwest Perinatal Psychiatry Service and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester, UK. She trained in psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital and the Institute of Psychiatry, London. Her research interests include female hormone action in the brain, endocrine and perinatal psychopharmacology and the biology of parenting behaviour.
    • ,
  • Alain Gregoire, DRCOG MRCPsych

      Affiliations

    • Alain Gregoire DRCOG MRCPsych is Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Perinatal Psychiatry in Southampton, UK. He qualified at the Royal London Hospital and trained in psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry, London. His research interests include pharmacological and neuroendocrine aspects of perinatal disorders, rural mental health and primary care mental health.

Abstract 

This paper assesses the use of psychiatric medications in childbearing women who are displaying acute symptoms of a moderate-to-severe mental illness. Childbearing may affect the course of illness and alterations in treatment are often required. In particular, the paper discusses the use of psychotropic drugs (including lithium, anti-epileptic drugs, antipsychotics, antidepressants, hormone treatment and electroconvulsive therapy) and their subsequent effects on the neonate, breastfeeding, development and teratogenicity. Since approximately 7% of women of childbearing age suffer from the acute symptoms of a moderate-to-severe mental illness, or have recently had an episode requiring drug treatment, a number of important problems need to be considered in the management of those episodes.

Keywords:  mental health , psychiatric medications , childbearing , teratogen , psychotropic drugs

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PII: S1744-1870(06)00136-3

doi:10.1383/wohm.2006.3.2.74

Women's Health Medicine
Volume 3, Issue 2 , Pages 74-77, March 2006

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