title: Bipolar disorder, affective psychosis, and schizophrenia in pregnancy and the post-partum period.
abstract: The perinatal period is associated with an increased risk of severe mental disorders. We summarise the evidence regarding the epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment of severe mental illness in relation to childbirth, focusing on bipolar disorder, affective psychosis, and schizophrenia. We discuss women with ongoing chronic conditions and those with the onset of new episodes of post-partum psychosis. Despite the importance of perinatal episodes, with suicide a leading cause of maternal death, few studies are available to guide the management of women with severe mental disorders in pregnancy and the post-partum period. However, general principles of management are discussed, including the need for an individual risk-benefit analysis for each woman.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Mental Health, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, UK. Electronic address: jonesir1@cf.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHNS), Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Prabha S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dazzan
authors.affiliation: Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Howard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents