AccScience Publishing / JCBP / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/jcbp.2978
Cite this article
85
Download
1419
Views
Journal Browser
Volume | Year
Issue
Search
News and Announcements
View All
PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE

Reviewing the art of safe prescription practices: A checklist for the use of psychotropic drugs during pregnancy

Kirk Lehman1* Emeil Aroney1
Show Less
1 Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Submitted: 20 February 2024 | Accepted: 21 March 2024 | Published: 3 April 2024
© 2024 by the Author (s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

Half of the women diagnosed with a mental health condition requiring regular medication have previously given birth to children. A dilemma arises when deciding whether to continue medication to treat the mother’s illness or potentially cease or replace medication in the interests of their child. This study endeavors to examine the challenges associated with prescribing psychotropic medications to pregnant women experiencing mental health disorders. Its primary objective is to furnish a checklist delineating essential considerations for prescribers in such cases. The investigation underscores the pivotal equilibrium required in addressing the mental health of the mother while mitigating risks to the developing fetus. The paper delves into the nuances of decision-making within this framework, highlighting the importance of a collaborative health-care approach coupled with personalized treatment strategies. These strategies may encompass modifications in medication regimens and the incorporation of non-pharmacological interventions. The prescription of psychotropic medications to pregnant women with mental health conditions presents complex challenges and demands consideration. Striking a critical balance is imperative, as it entails managing the mother’s mental health while minimizing potential risks to the developing fetus. The decision-making process is nuanced, influenced by factors such as the teratogenic potential of specific medications, the risk of neonatal withdrawal syndrome, and the potential for adverse outcomes in maternal and fetal health if psychiatric conditions remain untreated. Pre-conception counseling and maternal-fetal medicine services are beneficial tools in navigating this balance. Predictors of the necessity for medication during pregnancy include the patient’s diagnosis, severity of prior episodes, and responsiveness to treatment. The dynamic landscape of pharmaceutical research underscores the importance for prescribers to actively engage with evolving literature, ensuring the provision of accurate and up-to-date advice. Effective shared decision-making is of paramount significance in instilling confidence and assuring the patient.

Keywords
Psychotropic medication
Pregnancy
Prescribing
Prescribing safely
Checklist
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
References
  1. Howard LM, Kumar R, Thornicroft G. Psychosocial characteristics and needs of mothers with psychotic disorders. Br J Psychiatry. 2001;178(5):427-432. doi: 10.1192/bjp.178.5.427

 

  1. Morgan VA, McGrath JJ, Jablensky A, et al. Psychosis prevalence and physical, metabolic and cognitive co-morbidity: Data from the second Australian national survey of psychosis. Psychol Med. 2014;44(10):2163-2176. doi: 10.1017/S0033291713002973

 

  1. Frayne J, Ellies R, Nguyen T. Experiences of decision making about psychotropic medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding in women living with severe mental illness: A qualitative study. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2023;26(3):379-387. doi: 10.1007/s00737-023-01325-0

 

  1. Medical Student Council of Victoria Submission Recommendations; 2021. Available from: https://rcvmhs. archive.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/medical_student_ council_of_victoria.pdf [Last accessed on 2024 Feb 02].

 

  1. Therapeutic Guidelines. Psychotropic Use During Pregnancy; 2023. Available from: https://www.Vtopicteaser? guidelinepage=psychotropic&etgaccess=true [Last accessed on 2024 Feb 02].

 

  1. Wesseloo R, Kamperman AM, Munk-Olsen T, Pop VJM, Kushner SA, Bergink V. Risk of postpartum relapse in bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(2):117-127. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15010124

 

  1. Davis D, Sheehy A, Nightingale H, de Vitry-Smith S, Taylor J, Cummins A. Anxiety, stress, and depression in Australian pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross sectional study. Midwifery. 2023;119:103619. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2023.103619

 

  1. Desai G, Babu GN, Chandra PS. Unplanned pregnancies leading to psychotropic exposure in women with mental illness-findings from a perinatal psychiatry clinic. Indian J Psychiatry. 2012;54(1):59-63. doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.94649

 

  1. Alsdorf R, Wyszynski DF. Teratogenicity of sodium valproate. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2005;4(2):345-353. doi: 10.1517/14740338.4.2.345

 

  1. Tuccori M, Montagnani S, Testi A, et al. Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy and risk of major and cardiovascular malformations: An update. Postgrad Med. 2010;122(4):49-65. doi: 10.3810/pgm.2010.07.2175

 

  1. Boyce P, Buist A. Management of bipolar disorder over the perinatal period. Aust Fam Physician. 2016;45:890-893.

 

  1. Wang J, Cosci F. Neonatal withdrawal syndrome following late in utero exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Psychother Psychosom. 2021;90(5):299-307. doi: 10.1159/000516031

 

  1. Jefferies AL, Canadian Paediatric Society, Fetus and Newborn Committee. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy and infant outcomes. Paediatr Child Health. 2011;16(9):562-563. doi: 10.1093/pch/16.9.562

 

  1. Ward RK, Zamorski MA. Benefits and risks of psychiatric medications during pregnancy. Am Fam Physician. 2002;66(4):629-637.

 

  1. Coffman KL, Ash P. Medicating during pregnancy. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2019;17(4):380-381. doi: 10.1176/appi.focus.20190034

 

  1. Informed Consent. Healthdirect; 2023. Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/informed-consent#:~:text=To%20give%20informed%20consent%20 in,the%20opportunity%20to%20ask%20questions [Last accessed on 2024 Feb 02].

 

  1. Mason CJ, Brennan D, Toohey G, McHugh JJ. Rogers v Whitaker. HCA 58; 175 CLR 479; 23 NSWLR 600; 109 ALR 625; (1991) Aust Torts Reports 81-113; 1992.

 

  1. Skene, L., Smallwood, R. Informed consent: Lessons from Australia. BMJ. 2002;324(7328):39-41. doi: 10.1136/bmj.324.7328.39

 

  1. Lehman K, Aroney E. A guided framework for assessing off-label medication use in psychiatry. Australas Psychiatry. 2023;32:63-67. doi: 10.1177/10398562231211168

 

  1. Little BB, Gilstrap LC. Introduction to drugs in pregnancy. In: Gilstrap LC, Little BB, editors. Drugs and Pregnancy. 2nd ed. New York: Chapman and Hall; 2022. p. 523.
Share
Back to top
Journal of Clinical and Basic Psychosomatics, Electronic ISSN: 2972-4414 Print ISSN: 3060-8562, Published by AccScience Publishing