Update information
Minor changes since publication
September 2025: We removed the link to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) temporary advice on the valproate pregnancy prevention programme during the COVID-19 pandemic and added links to additional relevant safety advice from the MRHA in the rationale section of statement 1. Information about valproate and links to relevant safety advice from the MHRA were added to the rationale and definitions sections of statement 2.
August 2024: Changes have been made to the source guidance recommendation references to align with updated NICE guidelines on mental health. The guidelines were simplified by removing recommendations on general principles of care that are covered in other NICE guidelines.
February 2020: We updated statement 1 to reflect changes to the NICE guideline on antenatal and postnatal mental health. Warnings have been updated in line with the MHRA safety advice on valproate use by women and girls.
April 2018: Information has been added to statement 1 to update the advice and link to resources from the MHRA on the use of valproate in women and girls.