Advances in Perinatal Psychopharmacology: Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Management

Perinatal psychopharmacology explores the intricate challenges associated with prescribing psychotropic medications during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Managing psychiatric disorders in perinatal populations requires clinicians to balance the imperative of safeguarding maternal mental health against the potential risks these medications. One of the central problems in this area is the limited understanding of how pregnancy-induced physiological changes affect the pharmacokinetics—absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion—of psychotropic drugs. Research has recently highlighted the variability in drug plasma levels and therapeutic responses observed in pregnant and postpartum individuals, amplifying ongoing concerns about safety, efficacy, and long-term developmental outcomes for exposed children.Despite recent advances there remains a lack of comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines for dose adjustment and therapeutic monitoring tailored to perinatal populations. Ongoing debates persist regarding the clinical impacts of altered drug metabolism and the complex risk–benefit calculus involved in treating maternal psychiatric illness versus the potential for medication-related adverse effects. High-quality research investigating maternal and neonatal outcomes, as well as individualized approaches to medication management, is urgently needed to fill these knowledge gaps.This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of the pharmacokinetic processes influencing psychotropic medication use in the perinatal period and explore their direct clinical implications. Specific objectives include examining how physiological changes impact drug metabolism, evaluating evidence for current prescribing practices, and identifying best approaches for optimizing maternal and infant outcomes.We invite contributions on topics including, but not limited to, the following themes- Physiological alterations in pregnancy and postpartum affecting psychotropic pharmacokinetics- The impact of pharmacokinetic variability on efficacy and safety of psychotropic medications- Evidence-based recommendations for dosing, monitoring, and clinical decision-making- Clinical guidelines and decision-making frameworks for perinatal psychopharmacology- Maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with perinatal psychotropic exposure- Individualized approaches and strategies for risk mitigation in perinatal populations Topic editors: Maria Luisa Imaz, Laura Orsolini, Nikolaos Kokras Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78186/advances-in-perinatal-psychopharmacology-pharmacokinetics-and-clinical-management