psychiatric disease during pregnancy
Last reviewed 01/2018
Psychiatric problems are common at the beginning and end of pregnancy:
- first trimester of the pregnancy:
- unwanted pregnancy may cause anxiety and depression
- hyperemesis gravidarum
- pseudocyesis and Couvade syndrome
- reaction to termination or miscarriage
- anxiety about genetic screening
- third trimester of the pregnancy:
- anxiety about labour or parenthood
- fears about the normality of the foetus
Psychiatric disease during pregnancy is more common in those women with a previous psychiatric history.
Psychiatric disease often interferes with the continuity of ante-natal care.
Care should be taken when prescribing drugs to pregnant women.
psychiatric disease and pregnancy
antidepressant treatment during pregnancy