Risks associated with childbearing in schizophrenia.

Abstract

The authors report about the catamnestic study of 919 schizophrenic women who gave birth to a child after their first schizophrenic episode, 112 (12.2%) of the patients suffered a new psychotic breakdown in connection with generation process. The overwhelming majority, 109 (11.9%) decompensated during the post partum periode (within 6 months after parturition). In a significantly lesser degree, 3 (0.32%) of the cases, the psychotic episode occurred during pregnancy (in the first trimester). The authors emphasize the importance of careful pharmacological and psychotherapeutical management of pregnant schizophrenic women.