INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVE: In the treatment of mental illness in pregnancy, drug side effects and teratogenicity as well as negative effects of untreated disease on mother and fetus should be considered. Patients are confused about the use of drugs due to their prejudices and the effects of their relatives, gynecologists and psychiatrists. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the sociodemographic characteristics of pregnant patients who applied to Bakirköy Women's Mental Health Center (WMHC) and their attitudes towards drug use after learning that she has been pregnant.

METHOD: Files of 140 pregnant patients who were followed up at WMHC between December 2015 - December 2016 and whose psychiatric diagnosis was made upon clinic review according to DSM-5 diagnosis criteria were retrospectively examined, and their sociodemographic characteristics, disease histories, drug use, pregnancy characteristics and their attitudes towards drug use after learning pregnancy were examined.

RESULTS: Of 140 pregnant patients applying to WMHC, 5% were found to be illiterate; 46.4% was primary and secondary school graduates; 19.3% were high-school graduates; 15.7% had bachelor’s degree and 17.9% were found to be working. 32.9% of the patients were followed with the diagnosis of depression (n=46), 32.9% with anxiety (n=46), 5% with OCB (n=7), 18.6% with bipolar mood disorder (n=26), and 10% with psychotic disorder and 37.9% of them had hospitalization history. It was found that 58.7% (n=81) of the patients were using medication when they learned their pregnancy, and 88.1% of them were found to terminate drug use when they were aware of their pregnancy. Of those who stopped using drugs, 15.1% terminated their use gradually before pregnancy, 16.3% terminated gradually after they learned their pregnancy, and 67.4% terminated suddenly as soon as they were informed about their pregnancy. 76.3% of the patients decided to stop using drugs without consulting to their doctors. 46.4% of the patients (n=45) had planned pregnancy. For unplanned pregnancies, sudden cut-off the medication upon learning the pregnancy was statistically found to be meaningful when compared to planned pregnancies. (p<.001)

DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: This study showed that patients tend to quit their medicines after conception and terminate their treatment without consulting the psychiatrist. Pregnancy on a planned and physician-controlled basis is a preventive factor for sudden stopping of medication and recurrence of the disease. Among public, there is fear of drug use in pregnancy; regardless of education level, patients tend to quit their medication. It is important to give pre-pregnancy psychoeducation to patients.