Dr. Viguera Replies

To The Editor: We thank Drs. Isakovich and Smith and Dr. Mazer-Poline et al. for providing us with the opportunity to clarify several points about our findings pertaining to illness recurrence in pregnant women with bipolar disorder. They raise the question of which variables were included in the multivariate model, including the proposed indices of illness severity. We used Cox modeling to adjust for covariates in our primary survival analysis in order to test our hypothesis that discontinuation of mood stabilizers was a strong predictor of time-to-recurrence. We reported using forward selection of covariates associated with recurrence or time-to-recurrence; however, many of these covariates were not sustained in multivariate modeling. Specifically, prior rapid cycling, adjunctive antipsychotic use, or use of ≥2 psychotropic agents did not remain significantly associated with recurrence latency in multivariate modeling, whereas discontinuation of a mood stabilizer remained strongly associated with shorter time-to-recurrence.

In regard to potential predictors of recurrence, specifically among women who discontinued the use of a mood stabilizer, our analysis yielded the same predictors of recurrence noted for the overall cohort, with the exception of past suicide attempts, which was no longer statistically significant. Similarly, results from multivariate regression modeling were unchanged. In addition, we found little difference in recurrence risk among women who discontinued the use of mood stabilizers before conception (N=19; 88.4% [95% CI=74.9%–96.1%; p=0.33]) versus after conception (N=43; 78.9% [95% CI=54.4%–93.9%]; mean time off mood stabilizer=11.2 weeks). While the slightly lower recurrence risk among women who discontinued the use of a mood stabilizer before versus after conception may seem counterintuitive, it is important to consider the rate of taper during treatment discontinuation. Indeed, rapid discontinuation was a significant predictor of an even greater and earlier risk of recurrence compared with the gradual discontinuation of a mood stabilizer. At closer analysis, a higher proportion of women who discontinued the use of a mood stabilizer before conception gradually discontinued the use of medication compared with those who discontinued medication after conception (84% versus 26%, respectively). This difference is most likely attributable to whether the pregnancy was planned or unplanned. Not surprisingly, we found that unplanned pregnancy was associated with a greater likelihood of rapid discontinuation of treatment with a mood stabilizer (unplanned pregnancy: 23/24 [95.8%] versus planned pregnancy: 12/59 [20.3%]; Fisher’s exact=p<0.0001).

Dr. Mazer-Poline et al. also raise the thought-provoking question regarding the extent to which somatic symptoms that are commonly encountered during pregnancy might account for the reported high rates of recurrences of bipolar disorder in early pregnancy, particularly of depressive and dysphoric mixed states. We acknowledge the challenges of differentiating the normative somatic complaints of pregnancy from symptoms of depression. Indeed, none of the available scales or diagnostic assessments for depression or mania has been validated in pregnant populations. However, a major strength of our study was the determination of the primary outcome variable (i.e., recurrence) using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) mood module, which remains the current gold standard for diagnosing a new major depressive episode, mania, hypomania, or mixed states. In our study, the SCID mood module was administered by an experienced and trained rater, blinded to treatment status. As we commented in our article, some of the excess of depression we observed may have been accounted for by including subjects with bipolar II disorder, but we also reported a similar excess of depressive-dysphoric symptoms among bipolar I disorder subjects as well (depressive-dysphoric: 40.9% versus mania/hypomania: 19.6%). Alternatively, pregnancy itself may be a selective precipitant for depressive-dysphoric recurrences. A strong association of depressive morbidity in pregnancy among women with affective illness was observed by Louis-Victor Marcé more than150 years ago (1) as well as in more recent studies (2 – 4) .

We agree that for many clinicians, whether to recommend the discontinuation or maintenance of any medication during the first trimester of pregnancy is strongly influenced by the potential risk to the fetus and associated liability risks to the clinician. Indeed, adverse outcomes of childbirth are not uncommon. In our study sample, which included 85 live births, there were two stillbirths. Both stillbirths involved the use of lithium throughout pregnancy, with one being the result of Ebstein’s anomaly (a cardiac malformation associated with lithium exposure). However, no other occurrences of obvious birth defects were observed, but a detailed examination of neonatal outcomes is in progress.

These observations further underscore recommendations to consider clinical risks to the mother as well as to the fetus, particularly as the impact of maternal depression, mania, or psychosis on fetal and neonatal development remains poorly defined (5 , 6) . We advocate informing the patient fully of the considerable clinical risks involved in the discontinuation of treatment with a mood stabilizer, especially abruptly, and advocate that such discussions are a necessary component of sound, collaborative clinical care for women with bipolar disorder through pregnancy and during the postpartum period (2 , 5) .