Use of mood-stabilising medications in pregnancy

Overview

This session would provide up-to-date and comprehensive accounts of potential hazards associated with prescription of commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs during pregnancy. The talks would focus on the mood stabilisers sodium valproate, lamotrigine and lithium. The evidence in this field changes regularly and clinicians may not be fully aware of current and emerging evidence or of guidance from regulatory bodies on prescriptions in this potentially vulnerable patient group.

Objectives

Participants will have:

• increased knowledge of potential hazards associated with psychotropic drug prescriptions in a vulnerable patient group
• increased confidence in discussions with patients and relatives about this aspect of clinical practice
• increased familiarity with regulatory guidance relating to commonly prescribed medicines.

Speakers

Professor David Baldwin, University of Southampton, Southampton

Professor David Cunningham Owens, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

Professor Ian Jones, Cardiff University, Cardiff