Life-Threatening Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs

Life-Threatening Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs describes in detail more than 20 life-threatening effects associated with antipsychotics, presents the best available data on their incidence and case fatality, and gives comprehensive advice on diagnosis, management and preventive strategies. In addition, the book discusses the benefit of antipsychotic medication in a range of therapeutic indications, and demonstrates the gain in life-expectancy associated with clozapine use in severe mental illness despite its serious, potentially life-threatening adverse effects.

• Covers cardiovascular, neurological, muscular, hematological, gastrointestinal, autonomic and metabolic effects
• Gives advice on risk factors, confounding diagnoses and measures to minimise seriousness
• Discusses clozapine rechallenge after each of its serious adverse reactions
• Makes suggestions for optimum management of somatic disease in those with severe mental illness, to improve life-expectancy
• Includes data on post-mortem considerations

Psychiatrists, general and emergency physicians, pathologists, and mental health pharmacists

• List of Contributors
• Foreword
  • The Art and Science of Balance: Managing the Efficacy and Safety of Antipsychotic Drugs
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Symbols and Conventions
• Part I: Cardiovascular Adverse Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs
  • Chapter 1. Sudden Cardiac Death and Ventricular Arrhythmias
    • Abstract
    • 1.1 Epidemiology
    • 1.2 Pathobiology
    • 1.3 Clinical and Laboratory Features
    • 1.4 Prevention and Management
    • References
  • Chapter 2. Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy
    • Abstract
    • 2.1 Definitions
    • 2.2 Epidemiology
    • 2.3 Genetic Vulnerability
    • 2.4 Pathobiology
    • 2.5 Clinical and Laboratory Features
    • 2.6 Differential Diagnosis
    • 2.7 Complications and Significant Sequelae
    • 2.8 Risk Stratification for Death or Permanent Disability
    • 2.9 Management
    • 2.10 Prevention
    • Acknowledgment
    • References
  • Chapter 3. Pulmonary Embolism
    • Abstract
    • 3.1 Epidemiology
    • 3.2 Pathobiology
    • 3.3 Clinical and Laboratory Features
    • 3.4 Prevention and Management
    • References
  • Chapter 4. Orthostatic Hypotension
    • Abstract
    • 4.1 Epidemiology
    • 4.2 Pathobiology
    • 4.3 Clinical and Laboratory Features
    • 4.4 Prevention and Management
    • References
• Part II: Hematological Complications of Treatment With Antipsychotic Drugs
  • Chapter 5. Severe Neutropenia and Agranulocytosis
    • Abstract
    • 5.1 Epidemiology
    • 5.2 Pathobiology
    • 5.3 Clinical and Laboratory Features
    • 5.4 Prevention and Management
    • References
• Part III: Antipsychotic-Related Pathology of the Digestive System
  • Chapter 6. Gastrointestinal Hypomotility and Dysphagia
    • Abstract
    • 6.1 Gastrointestinal Hypomotility
    • 6.2 Dysphagia and Sialorrhea
    • Acknowledgment
    • References
  • Chapter 7. Liver Failure
    • Abstract
    • 7.1 Definition
    • 7.2 Search Strategy
    • 7.3 Epidemiology
    • 7.4 Pathobiology
    • 7.5 Clinical and Laboratory Features
    • 7.6 Management
    • 7.7 Prevention
    • 7.8 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 8. Pancreatitis
    • Abstract
    • 8.1 Epidemiology
    • 8.2 Pathobiology
    • 8.3 Clinical and Laboratory Features
    • 8.4 Management
    • References
• Part IV: Major Neurological and Neuromuscular Adverse Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs
  • Chapter 9. Seizures
    • Abstract
    • 9.1 Epidemiology
    • 9.2 Pathobiology
    • 9.3 Clinical and Laboratory Features
    • 9.4 Prevention and Management
    • Acknowledgment
    • References
  • Chapter 10. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
    • Abstract
    • 10.1 Epidemiology
    • 10.2 Pathobiology
    • 10.3 Clinical and Laboratory Features
    • 10.4 Prevention and Management
    • References
  • Chapter 11. Heat Stroke and Rhabdomyolysis
    • Abstract
    • 11.1 Heat Stroke
    • 11.2 Rhabdomyolysis
    • References
• Part V: Metabolic Complications of Antipsychotic Drug Treatment
  • Chapter 12. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
    • Abstract
    • 12.1 Epidemiology
    • 12.2 Pathobiology
    • 12.3 Clinical and Laboratory Features
    • 12.4 Prevention and Management
    • 12.5 Conclusion
    • References
• Part VI: Other Life-Threatening Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs
  • Chapter 13. Interstitial Nephritis and Interstitial Lung Disease
    • Abstract
    • 13.1 Interstitial Nephritis
    • 13.2 Interstitial Lung Disease
    • References
• Part VII: Clinical and Forensic Challenges in the Use of Antipsychotic Drugs
  • Chapter 14. The Benefits of Antipsychotic Drugs: Symptom Control and Improved Quality of Life
    • Abstract
    • 14.1 Therapeutic Objectives in Schizophrenia
    • 14.2 Pharmacology of Antipsychotic Drugs
    • 14.3 Symptom Reduction in Schizophrenia
    • 14.4 Relapse Prevention and Antipsychotic Maintenance Treatment
    • 14.5 Improving Quality of Life in Patients With Schizophrenia
    • 14.6 Antipsychotic Drugs in Treating Other Psychiatric Disorders
    • References
  • Chapter 15. Antipsychotic-Related Mortality: Risk and Strategy for Improved Clinical Management
    • Abstract
    • 15.1 Reduced Life-Expectancy with Severe Mental Illness (SMI)
    • 15.2 Suicide Reduced with Clozapine
    • 15.3 An Obstacle to Clozapine Prescribing: Agranulocytosis
    • 15.4 Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Poor Outcomes with Severe Mental Illness (SMI)
    • 15.5 Strategy for Improved Outcomes
    • References
    • Further Reading
  • Chapter 16. Forensic Investigation of Antipsychotic-Related Deaths
    • Abstract
    • 16.1 Introduction
    • 16.2 Clinical and Pathological Correlations
    • 16.3 Toxicological Assessments
    • 16.4 System-Specific Forensic Considerations
    • 16.5 Conclusions
    • References
• Guide to the Interpretation of the Results of Some Chemical Pathology Tests
• Index