No Complications With Risperidone Treatment Before and Throughout Pregnancy and During the Nursing Period

Letter to the Editor

Sir: Most psychiatric disorders among women arise in the childbearing years, particularly in the perinatal period. This presents a dilemma in treatment management. Prenatal exposure of the fetus to psychotropic drugs carries the risk of teratogenicity. However, when medications are not taken or are discontinued during pregnancy, there is evidence that patients may be at high risk for relapse, and there is a possible direct effect of maternal illness on the fetus, for example, impaired ability to obtain prenatal care, increased risk of impulsive and/ or dangerous behavior, and obstetric complications.