ECT During Pregnancy: Physiologic and Pharmacologic Considerations.
ECT is an accepted treatment for depression, mania, catatonia, and schizophrenia, but is usually used after other traditional drug treatments have failed. This also holds true for pregnant women who require psychiatric treatment. ECT is normally deferred until the fetus is at risk from the unstable psychiatric condition of the mother. This review examines the physiological effects of ECT, case reports of pregnant women receiving ECT, and possible complications of the medications administered before the procedure. All published case reports of ECT during all trimesters of pregnancy and the effects of ECT on the child are reviewed. The medications given before ECT (i.e., anticholinergics, muscle relaxants, and anesthetics) are examined for their teratogenic potential when administered multiple times during pregnancy.
Ferrill
Mary J.
MJ
University of the Pacific, Stockton, and Modesto Psychiatric Center, Modesto, California, USA.
Kehoe
William A.
WA
Jacisin
John J.
JJ