EXPLORING PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS IN PREGNANT WOMEN: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF OUTCOMES AND IMPLICATIONS

Problem statement

The care and management of women with psychiatric disorders in pregnancy is both challenging and complex. Pregnancy is a critical period in a woman`s life that can be accompanied by various physiological, emotional, and psychological changes. Among these changes, the emergence or exacerbation of psychiatric disorders poses a significant concern, as it can impact both maternal well-being and fetal development. The decision to maintain or start treatment can also pose a risk to the mother, fetus or infant and to the pregnancy outcomes.

This retrospective study aims to address the gap in understanding the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in pregnant women within a central hospital population and to analyze the subsequent outcomes and implications for both maternal health and neonatal outcomes.

Methods

We analyzed a total of 100 women who were referred to a specialized maternal health appointment in a central hospital over the course of 9 years. We collected and analyzed data on the diagnosis, treatment, exacerbations and pregnancy and perinatal outcomes.

Results
Of 100 women with psychiatric pathology, 99 met the selection criteria. The women presented a median age at diagnosis of 22 years and our population had a median age of 30 years at the moment of delivery. Of those, 6,1% reported previous attempts of suicide. 32 were medicated at the time of pregnancy (32,3% with antidepressants, 8,1% with benzodiazepines, and 29,3% with antipsychotics). There were 2 cases of disease exacerbation. After delivery, 37,4% were discharged with some form of pharmaceutical treatment. There were 5 identified cases of postpartum depression and no reported cases of postpartum psychosis.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this retrospective study sheds some light on the intricate landscape of managing psychiatric disorders in pregnant women. Recognizing pregnancy as a transformative juncture characterized by a cascade of physiological, emotional, and psychological shifts, the study highlights the critical concern posed by the emergence or exacerbation of psychiatric disorders and serves as a clarion call for comprehensive, multidisciplinary approaches to the care of pregnant women with psychiatric disorders.