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Pharmacological Management of Borderline Personality Disorder in a Pregnant Woman with a Previous History of Alcohol Addiction: A Case Report

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Abstract

The clinical utilization of psychotropic medications in pregnant women represents a significant challenge. Indeed, the risks of untreated severe mental disorders, particularly when complicated by substance-related and addictive disorders, must be carefully balanced against the potential teratogenic risks of pharmacological treatment. In this case, an alcohol addict, diagnosed with borderline personality disorder was treated successfully with several classes of psychotropic agents during the first trimester. In September 2014, while taking trazodone, lorazepam, quetiapine, mirtazapine, and flurazepam, this patient became aware that she was pregnant. After a perinatal psychiatrist consultation requested four months later, trazodone and flurazepam were progressively suspended and daily doses of lorazepam and quetiapine were lowered gradually. Mirtazapine dose remained unchanged. Apart from a mild gastro-esophageal reflux disease, birth outcome was normal.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mental Health ASL Salerno, Mental Health Center n. 63, Piazza Galdi, 841013, Cava de’ Tirreni (Salerno), Italy

    Salvatore Gentile

  2. Department of Neurosciences, Perinatal Psychiatry, University of Naples, Medical School “Federico II”, Via S. Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy

    Salvatore Gentile

Authors
  1. Salvatore Gentile
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Correspondence to Salvatore Gentile.

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Funding

This case-report was supported by neither sources of funding nor editorial assistance.

Conflicts of interest

Dr. Gentile has no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Ethical approval

All procedures in this study were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration (and its amendments). No approval by ethical committee or institutional review board was needed.

Informed consent

Written evidence of patient’s consent to publish this report is available on her medical records shielded at Mental Health Operative Unit n. 63—Piazza Galdi—84013—Cava de’ Tirreni (Salerno)—Italy.

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Gentile, S. Pharmacological Management of Borderline Personality Disorder in a Pregnant Woman with a Previous History of Alcohol Addiction: A Case Report. Clin Drug Investig 35, 761–763 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40261-015-0337-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40261-015-0337-z

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