Female life cycle and psychiatric disorders from the view point of pharmacotherapy

Abstract

In psychiatric disorders there is a sex difference in prevalence, clinical course and drug response. Especially, in women, biological and psychosocial factors influence the clinical features of the disease in synchronization with their life cycle. Low fertility and risk of developing breast cancer or osteoporosis due to hyperprolactinemia are major concerns in the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder and perinatal or perimenopausal depression are mood disorders specific to women. In the pharmacotherapy of perinatal psychiatric disorders, drug effects on the fetus and birth and drug transfer to infants remain an important clinical problem. Interruption of pharmacotherapy during pregnancy increases the risk of relapse in bipolar disorder, while some mood stabilizers are contraindicated due to their teratogenicity. Regarding pharmacotherapy for women, the effects on female-specific physical conditions and pregnancy and childbirth must be evaluated while considering the risk of recurrence and relapse over their life cycle.