Psychopharmacologic Strategies for Women to Plan Pregnancy

  <?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Hee-Yeon Choi, Su Young Lee, Ho-Suk Suh, Jong-Hyun Jeong, MD, and Weonjeong Lim

Korean Journal of Psychopharmacology. v.24 n.3 p.85-101

ABSTRACT

Clinicians are faced with major challenges when treating women with psychiatric disorders who are contemplating pregnancy or are pregnant. Recent data suggest that pregnancy has no protective effect on the course of psychiatric disorders and that discontinuation of psychotropic drugs is associated with a significant risk of relapse. This article reviews the major clinical dilemmas in managing women with psychiatric disorders who plan to conceive. Before pregnancy, clinical considerations for the interventions such as family planning, parental education and supporting, and antenatal care are important to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications. To treatment decision, clinicians should discuss with the woman the absolute and relative risks associated with not treated mental disorder and psychotropic drugs. Non-pharmacological treatment should be considered also. Treatment strategies, for each of the women with psychiatric disorders who plan to conceive are discussed.

Keywords: Pregnant women, Preconception care, Psychopharmacotherapy

- Fulltext Link: http://journal.kcnp.or.kr/sub/abs.asp?year=2013&vol=24&page=85