Schizophrenia and Pregnancy: The Tactics of Management

Abstract

Purpose

The study of literature data of the treatment of pregnant women with schizophrenia and making recommendations on the management of this category of patients.

Methods

Theoretical analysis of a number of scientific works of foreign researchers, which studied questions of application of psychotropic drugs in patients with schizophrenia during pregnancy.

Discussion

The important source of problems for patients with schizophrenia is a protection against pregnancy. The number of children born in mentally ill mothers has increased at least three times. Hereditary factors in children born from two parents with schizophrenia plays, an important role: approximately 46–68% of these children may develop schizophrenia. In studies on psychotic means, there were no increase in number of anatomical anomalies or deviations in the development associated with this treatment. Low doses do not have a deleterious effect on fetal body weight, duration of pregnancy, fetal or neonatal mortality, as well as the frequency of malformations and deformities. Neither oral nor deposited anti-psychotic drugs are not associated with malformations and malformations of the fetus.

Conclusion

(1) The drugs should be administered at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time and decrease in the dose during the last days before the birth. (2) Pregnant women with acute psychotic disorders are dangerous, both for herself and for the child. (3) After the birth due to high risk of recurrence or exacerbation of schizophrenia taking anti-psychotic drugs should be in full dose.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.