Psychiatric Treatment in Pregnancy: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium are a series of transformations and huge changes in a woman’s life, which may also be accompanied by various mental problems. Very often, women experiencing mental disorders during this period and their doctors face a decision on safety of treatment. The purpose of the following review was to assess the safety of treatment during pregnancy. Internet scientific database PubMed was searched. There are groups of psychiatric medications contraindicated during pregnancy such as valproates as well as relatively safe ones such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or antipsychotics. However, in every clinical situation, a decision should be made with caution, based on individual characteristics of patient, severity of disorder and clinical picture.