Acute Psychiatric Crisis in Obstetrics

Abstract

Though pregnancy is joyful for most of women, many biological and psychosocial changes may make vulnerable to psychiatric episode in an otherwise normal or in preexisting controlled disease. Many pregnancies occur unexpectedly while women are receiving treatment with medications for psychiatric disorders. Many women may consider stopping medication abruptly after learning they are pregnant, but for many women, this may carry substantial risks making them vulnerable to acute psychiatric episode during pregnancy causing harm to themselves and the fetus or neonate.

Although studies suggest that some medications may be used safe during pregnancy, research on effects of prenatal exposure to psychotropic medications is still incomplete. This chapter summarizes in short the various types of psychiatric illness which may present as acute emergency for an obstetrician.