Adele Viguera, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Director of Clinical Research, Center for Women’s Mental Health, Cleveland Clinic, discusses pregnant women with bipolar disorder, which carries a recurrence risk of up to 85%.

Summary:
Pregnancy and bipolar disorder carries a recurrence risk rate of at least 30-50% and may be as high as 85%; continuing maintenance therapy decreases the risk rate two-fold.

References and Resources:
Krüger S. [Bipolar disorder, pregnancy and the postpartum–risks and possibilities of pharmacotherapy.] Ther Umsch. 2009 Jun;66(6):475-84. German.
Sasse J, Pilhatsch M, Forsthoff A, Grunze H, Neutze J, Pfennig A, Schmitz B, Schwenkhagen A, Bauer M. [Specific aspects of treatment for women with bipolar affliction.] Nervenarzt. 2009 Mar;80(3):263-72. Review. German.

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