Antenatal and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance
Antenatal and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance - National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
This guideline covers recognising, assessing and treating mental health problems in women who are planning to have a baby, are pregnant, or have had a baby or been pregnant in the past year. It covers depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, drug- and alcohol-use disorders and severe mental illness (such as psychosis, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia). It promotes early detection and good management of mental health problems to improve women’s quality of life during pregnancy and in the year after giving birth.
- MHRA advice on antiepileptic drugs in pregnancy: In May 2021, we linked to the MHRA updated safety advice on antiepileptic drugs in pregnancy in the recommendations on lamotrigine, carbamazepine and prescribing antiepileptics for women or girls of childbearing potential.
- MHRA advice on valproate: In February 2020, we amended recommendations on anticonvulsants for mental health problems in line with the MHRA guidance on valproate use by women and girls. Valproate must not be used in women and girls of childbearing potential (including young girls who are likely to need treatment into their childbearing years), unless other options are unsuitable and the pregnancy prevention programme is in place. The MHRA has published temporary advice on the valproate pregnancy prevention programme during the COVID-19 pandemic.