Vivien K Burt, M.D., Ph.D.,
Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
Founder and Consultant/Director
The Women's Life Center
Resnick UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital
Bipolar women are often faced with the dilemma of how to decide on the safest way to realize their wish to become mothers. They know that bipolar disorder presents challenges in both pregnancy and the postpartum. On the one hand they want to remain emotionally stable, and on the other hand, they want to minimize any risks to their babies. This lecture will present data that supports the best and safest treatment options for bipolar pregnant and postpartum women.
Educational Objectives
As a result of participating in this activity, learners should be able to:
1. Discuss the risks to be weighed when treating bipolar disorder in pregnancy
2. Explain the risks of prenatal treatment with lithium on fetal outcome
3. Describe the risks of prenatal treatment with valproate on fetal outcome
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