Anti-depressant medication in pregnant women with epilepsy

Background: Epilepsy is a permanent cerebrovascular disorder with significant negative effects on the individual s physical, psychological and social health. Psychiatric disorders in patients with epilepsy are more common than general population. Psychiatric conditions are commonly comorbid with epilepsy, affecting up to a third of patients and depression is the most common of these. Women with epilepsy (WWE) comprise up to 0.7% of all pregnancies. Pregnancy may potentially lead to depression or exacerbation of previous depression. Antidepressant drug (ADD) treatment in pregnant women has been steadily increasing over the last 20 years, despite their use being questioned as potentially increasing the risk of congenital malformations. Many studies have shown that the risk of untreated depression is greater than ADD use for mother and child. On the other hand, some believe that women should spend their pregnancy without medication. This study attempts to discuss the challenges of using antidepressants in pregnant mothers with epilepsy. Methods:This study is a review article is collected by using of scientific resources from reputable sites including SID, Scopus, Pub Med, Google scholar, Science direct, Irandoc and WHO,by searching English words Epilepsy,Antidepressant drugs, Pregnant women. Findings:According to the findings of most researchers, among the reported psychiatric disorders in epileptic patients, depression has the highest prevalence, and the use of antidepressants, along with antiepileptic drugs, does not have significant teratogenic effects and does not affect the control of epileptic seizures. Conclusion:The results of this study indicate that due to the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in pregnant women with epilepsy, it is clear that diagnosis, examination and adjunctive psychiatric treatment can be useful for these patients.

Keywords:

Epilepsy , Antidepressant drugs , Pregnant women