There is a severe lack of evidence on the risks and benefits of psychotropic medication in pregnancy. No randomised controlled trials have been conducted that establish whether the benefits of taking antipsychotic drugs outweigh the risks for pregnant or postpartum women (Webb et al 2004, 2009). Some psychotropic medications are known to have teratogenic and adverse neurodevelopmental effects (Epstein et al, 2015; Tomson et al 2012) and currently no psychotropic medication is licensed for use in pregnancy. This creates a dilemma for healthcare professionals and patients; protect the woman’s mental health or protect the unborn child from the potentially damaging effects of psychotropic medication?

The National Institute for Health Research has commissioned research to address the question: What are the risks and benefits of psychotropic drugs in women treated for psychosis who become pregnant? (Peterson et al, 2016).