A panel of top experts in perinatal psychiatry reviews the many recent
studies on the use of psychiatric medications in pregnancy and
postpartum and assesses their impact on the diagnosis and treatment of
pregnant/postpartum women. The authors focus on each of the major
psychiatric illnesses, including depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar
disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse, eating disorders, and mental
illness, as well as on the potential impact of these illnesses on
infants and children. Interpreting conflicting and inconclusive clinical
findings, they spell out the lesser-known risks of prenatal medication
exposure and illuminate a variety of issues that must be taken into
account in choosing such treatments as medications, psychotherapy,
parental education, and social skills training.