To the Editor: The report by O’Donnell and colleagues on the increasing rate of mental illness in parents of infants highlights a very important issue and is consistent with overseas studies that suggest there is increasing use of psychotropic medication in pregnancy.1,2
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- 1. O’Donnell M, Anderson D, Morgan VA, et al. Trends in pre-existing mental health disorders among parents of infants born in Western Australia from 1990 to 2005. Med J Aust 2013; 198: 485-488. <MJA full text>
- 2. Epstein RA, Bobo WV, Shelton RC, et al. Increasing use of atypical antipsychotics and anticonvulsants during pregnancy. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2013; 22: 794-801.
- 3. Kulkarni J, McCauley-Elsom K, Marston N, et al. Preliminary findings from the National Register of Antipsychotic Medication in Pregnancy. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2008; 42: 38-44.
- 4. Miller LJ, Finnerty M. Sexuality, pregnancy and childrearing among women with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Psychiatr Serv 1996; 47: 502-506.
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