Should Lithium Be Used During Pregnancy?

Lithium is an effective acute and maintenance treatment for bipolar (manic-depressive) illness, but because of perceived teratogenic risk, it has been contraindicated for pregnant women for most of its time on the market. Recent research, however, suggests that the risk to the fetus should be weighed against the risk for recurrent bipolar illness and its ramifications. Investigators analyzed the clinical course of DSM-IV-defined bipolar disease in 42 pregnant and 59 nonpregnant women who discontinued lithium using data from clinical charts and structured interviews. The incidence of episodes of mania or major depression during pregnancy and 24-weeks postpartum was compared with the incidence during an equivalent period in the nonpregnant gr…