title: Psychosis during pregnancy: treatment considerations.
abstract: The onset of psychosis during pregnancy presents several difficult management decisions and a careful risk-benefit analysis is required. Withholding antipsychotic treatment may produce more risks than benefits. Studies on neuroleptic teratogenicity are contradictory. Most of the commonly used neuroleptics exhibit a pregnancy risk of category C. Neuroleptic use during pregnancy may be associated with adverse effects in the pre- and postnatal period. These concerns include compromising uterine blood flow, post-partum neonatal sedation, and extrapyramidal signs expressed in the neonate. Each neuroleptic exhibits a unique pharmacokinetic profile. The antipsychotic properties and side effects considered most significant include sedation, half-life, hypotension, and apparent hydrophilicity. In this case study a decision to select molindone was based on these parameters.
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Shreveport 71130, USA.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Pinkofsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008972:Molindone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008972:Molindone