Workshop 8: “Evidence based prescribing of psychotropic medications during pregnancy and lactation”

​ Psychiatric disorders are common in pregnant women. Around 20 percent of women suffer from mood or anxiety disorders during pregnancy, particularly those who already had histories of psychiatric illness and have discontinued their psychotropic medications during pregnancy. A variety of adverse pregnancy outcomes and complications such as low birth weight, fetal growth retardation and preterm delivery have been linked to women with psychiatric illness. The use of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding has increased considerably over the last few years. The clinical decision to use any medication including psychotropic medications always requires a careful weighing of the risks and benefits.