The effects of episods in pregnancy and postpartum in women patients with bipolar disorder on the prognosis of the disease

OBJECTİVE: There are publications reporting that the course of bipolar disorder differs between genders. Symptoms often worsen during hormonal fluctuations in women. Our aim with this study is to investigate the effect of pregnancy periods on the course of bipolar disorder. METHOD: 93 female patients who were diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the Aydın Adnan Menderes University Hospital, who were treated in the service or outpatient follow-up, who agreed toparticipate in the study were included in the study. Sociodemographic data of the participants were taken in detail and SCID-I, YMRS and HDRS were applied. RESULTS: Disorder onset age and age of diagnosis in women with a history of pregnancy are later. Depressive episodes are more common during pregnancy. Postpartum depression is more common in those with an attack during pregnancy. The number of lifetime attacks is higher in those who have attacks during pregnancy and the YMRS scores are worse. CONCLUSİON:Our study, in which we investigated the effect of mood attacks during pregnancy and postpartum on the course of the disease in female bipolar patients, has not been done before, according to our knowledge. According to the results of the study, in those with a history of pregnancy,although the disease starts later it is observed that it progresses with more attacks. Accordingly, pregnancy seems to negatively affect the prognosis of the disease. Studies with more patients are needed to better understand the effect of pregnancy on bipolarity. KEY WORDS: Bipolar Disorder, Pregnancy, Postpartum