[Bipolar disorder, pregnancy and the postpartum--risks and possibilities of pharmacotherapy]

Pregnancy and the postpartum are times of increased risk for women with bipolar disorder to develop mood episodes, especially depressions that may require pharmacotherapy. If mood stabilizing agents are discontinued prior or due to pregnancy, the risk for relapse increases dramatically. On the other hand, there is no psychotropic drug that is completely risk-free for the unborn. Some mood stabilizing medications are teratogenic, others can cause severe perinatal complications. Thus, the decision whether to treat the pregnant women with psychotropic drugs is difficult to make. In this paper, the reproductive risks of mood stabilizing agents, antidepressants, neuroleptics and benzodiazepines for the fetus are reviewed. During the postpartum period severe mood disorders can occur. The signs and symptoms of these disorders are reviewed and therapeutic strategies are discussed.