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Optimizing Treatment for Children in the Developing World pp 291–302Cite as

Psychotropic Medications in Pregnancy

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Abstract

Mental disorders are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pregnant women. Although not thoroughly studied in developing country settings, the use of pharmacotherapy in pregnancy poses a major public health challenge that is certain to be prominent in populations skewed towards reproductive age. The standard of care calls for stringent efforts to control perinatal mental disorders as essential for favorable pregnancy outcomes for both mother and neonate. Psychotropic medications have been shown effective in control of relevant conditions, and presently, with the exception of some antiepileptic drugs, have not been associated with significant teratogenic risk. In all clinical situations, the benefits of maternal, fetal, and neonatal well-being should be weighed on an individual basis against potential teratogenesis. Thoughtful management of pregnant patients suffering from mental health disorders and prescription of monotherapy, if clinically suitable, will increase the odds of favorable maternal/neonatal outcomes, including future child well-being.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Motherisk Program, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Irena Nulman MD, PhD, Paul Nathan Terrana BSc, MD Candidate & Michael Lutwak BSc

  2. School of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Paul Nathan Terrana BSc, MD Candidate

  3. The Motherisk Program, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Maya Pearlston BSc

Authors
  1. Irena Nulman MD, PhD
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  2. Paul Nathan Terrana BSc, MD Candidate
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  3. Michael Lutwak BSc
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  4. Maya Pearlston BSc
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Irena Nulman MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Stuart MacLeod

  2. University of Melbourne Medical School, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Suzanne Hill

  3. Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Gideon Koren

  4. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University, Hostpital Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Anders Rane

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Nulman, I., Terrana, P.N., Lutwak, M., Pearlston, M. (2015). Psychotropic Medications in Pregnancy. In: MacLeod, S., Hill, S., Koren, G., Rane, A. (eds) Optimizing Treatment for Children in the Developing World. Adis, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15750-4_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15750-4_25

  • Publisher Name: Adis, Cham

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