We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Informing patients of the teratogenic potential of mood stabilizing drugs: case note review of the practice of psychiatrists.
- Authors
James, Laraine; Barnes, Thomas R. E.; Lelliott, Paul; Taylor, David; Paton, Carol
- Abstract
Lithium, carbamazepine and valproate are established human teratogens. Women of childbearing potential who are prescribed these drugs should be informed of their teratogenic potential and advised of the need for adequate contraception and the protective rote of rotate. We reviewed the clinical records of all women of childbearing age in long-term contact with one specialist mental hearth Trust providing services for a total population of 750000. One hundred and thirty eight (16%) of 837 women of childbearing age were prescribed one or more of these drugs. There was documented evidence that 29 (21%) of these women had been informed about teratogenicity and that 33 (24%) had been advised about contraception. Fourteen women (10%) had a confirmed pregnancy white taking lithium, carbamazepine or valproate; eight had a complication of pregnancy. If prescribing practice in this large mental hearth Trust were typical of the UK, between 7000 and 11000 women of childbearing potential would be prescribed lithium, carbamazepine or valproate by psychiatrists without documented discussion of the risks.
- Subjects
UNITED Kingdom; TERATOGENIC agents; LITHIUM; CARBAMAZEPINE; VALPROIC acid; PSYCHIATRISTS
- Publication
Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2007, Vol 21, Issue 8, p815
- ISSN
0269-8811
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/0269881107077222