title: Motherhood and mental illness: Part 1 - toward a general understanding.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mental illness is common among women of childbearing age, and fertility rates of women with mental illness are close to those of the general population. General practitioners will see most of the women who may be seeking advice and management of their mental illnesses before, during or after a pregnancy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article reviews the current approaches to the management of mental illness in and around pregnancy, and provides practical advice regarding pregnancy related issues in women with mental health disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GP is ideally placed to give information and encourage appropriate treatment choices in women with mental illness. Given the multifaceted complexities, the optimal approach is holistic and collaborative. Specialist opinion must be sought early and a multidisciplinary approach with access to specialist care offered if possible. Continuity of care, especially in the context of a trusting therapeutic relationship, is considered optimal.
authors.affiliation: Childbirth and Mental Illness Antenatal Clinic, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, Perth, Western Australia. acqueline.frayne@health.wa.gov.au
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frayne
authors.forename: Thinh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Suzanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rampono
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003376:Counseling; D019052:Depression, Postpartum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy