Helen G. Kim, MD, and Manasi Kolpe, MD
What should a clinician consider in selecting a psychotropic medication for pregnant and lactating women with psychiatric symptoms? While postpartum depression is increasingly recognized as a public health priority, vulnerability to depression and anxiety begin in pregnancy. Clinicians are often called upon to counsel pregnant and postpartum patients about the risks and benefits of psychotropic medication. Patients generally overestimate the risks of psychotropic drugs and underestimate the impact of untreated psychiatric illness on themselves and their families. This article reviews recent studies and treatment considerations in selecting psychotropic medications for perinatal women with mood and anxiety symptoms.