Patterns in Psychiatrists' Prescription of Valproate for Female Patients of Childbearing Age With Bipolar Disorder in Japan: A Questionnaire Survey.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Accumulating evidence has shown that valproate has the greatest teratogenic potential for increasing the risk of major congenital malformations, such as neural tube defects, cleft palate, and neurodevelopmental disability. Although valproate is a pharmacological option for acute mania and is used as a stabilization drug for patients with bipolar disorder, some global guidelines state that valproate should not be used for girls or women of childbearing age with bipolar disorder. We investigated patterns in psychiatrists' prescription of valproate for bipolar female patients of childbearing age in Japan.

Methods

From March to May 2018, we conducted a questionnaire survey among psychiatrists from all prefectures in Japan on psychiatric practice as it relates to major

SUBMITTER: Tachibana M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7176044 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature