Expert: JM Starkman, MD - 8/12/2011

Question
I had a hernia repair in 1986, I must have been about two weeks pregnant (if that) since I had missed my period.  I thought the stress and worry were the cause, had no idea I was pregnant.  Surgeon asked me if I had gotten my period, I explained I had not.  He said he would use anesthetic known to be "safe" in pregnancy just in case.  I was not unconscious during the procedure, just "out of it".  My daughter at 23 was diagnosed with schizo-affective/bi-polar with social anxiety and other factors.  Could this anesthetic have caused this condition?  There is  no known history of any sort of schizophrenia on either side of my family although my half brother's son committed suicide (unknown to me) as an adult due to some psychiatric condition.

Answer
Anesthetics have been accused of many things, but as an etiology of major mental illness I have heard none---save Freud's use of cocaine to 'cure' heroin addicts and creating the world's first coke-heads! (true).  The causes of psychoses are not my area of expertise, however, your best move now is to find a board-certified psychiatrist with whom you can work to assure your daughter's best treatment and response.