A survey of antiepileptic prescribing to women of childbearing potential in psychiatry.
Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are teratogenic. The aim of this survey was to ascertain whether clinicians followed recently published guidelines for prescribing AEDs to women of childbearing potential in England and Wales. We reviewed the case notes of all women aged 16-47 years who were initiated on valproate or carbamazapine in the psychiatric departments of three teaching hospitals over a 12 month period. Standards of documentation regarding childbearing issues in this representative sample were poor. The results are of concern given the widespread use of antiepileptic drugs in psychiatry.
Wieck
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Department of Psychiatry, Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK. awieck@globalnet.co.uk
Rao
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Sein
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Haddad
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004739:England; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014852:Wales
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid