Seelische Erkrankungen in der Schwangerschaft

It had been previously suggested that women are protected against psychiatric diseases during pregnancy. However, new studies show different results. Depressive episodes and bipolar disorders are very common, but psychoses, drug and alcohol dependency, and obsessive?Ccompulsive disorders can also occur. Patients should be asked for typical symptoms, possibly by using a specific questionnaire. Due to the risk of severe depressive or psychotic symptoms with suicidal ideation, an existing psychiatric medication should not be stopped. In case of an unmedicated patient, monotherapy should be preferred. Elaborated studies disproving teratogenicity have been published for most SSRIs, SNRIs as well as for benzodiazepines and some neuroleptic drugs. In addition to medication, psychotherapy is an effective alternative or might be an additional approach.