A survey of antiepileptic prescribing to women of childbearing potential in psychiatry

A Wieck; S Rao; K Sein; P M Haddad

doi:10.1007/s00737-007-0175-y

A survey of antiepileptic prescribing to women of childbearing potential in psychiatry

Arch Womens Ment Health. 2007;10(2):83-5. doi: 10.1007/s00737-007-0175-y. Epub 2007 Mar 23.

Authors

A Wieck¹, S Rao, K Sein, P M Haddad

Affiliation

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK. awieck@globalnet.co.uk

PMID: 17380253
DOI: 10.1007/s00737-007-0175-y

Abstract

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are teratogenic. The aim of this survey was to ascertain whether clinicians followed recently published guidelines for prescribing AEDs to women of childbearing potential in England and Wales. We reviewed the case notes of all women aged 16-47 years who were initiated on valproate or carbamazapine in the psychiatric departments of three teaching hospitals over a 12 month period. Standards of documentation regarding childbearing issues in this representative sample were poor. The results are of concern given the widespread use of antiepileptic drugs in psychiatry.

Publication types

Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Anticonvulsants / adverse effects
Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
Carbamazepine / therapeutic use
Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data*
England
Epilepsy / drug therapy*
Female
Hospitals, Teaching / organization & administration
Humans
Maternal Welfare / statistics & numerical data*
Middle Aged
Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
Preconception Care / statistics & numerical data*
Pregnancy
Risk Assessment / statistics & numerical data
Surveys and Questionnaires
Valproic Acid / therapeutic use
Wales

Substances

Anticonvulsants
Carbamazepine
Valproic Acid