Psychiatric patients awareness of their illnesses and medications.

Objective: To assess awareness of Saudi psychiatric patients of their illnesses and medications at Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC).

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at the outpatients clinics of PSMMC, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January to December 2012. The study included 647 patients undergoing treatment for their psychiatric illnesses.

Difficulties in diagnosing neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

This report describes a recent case of neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a rare adverse effect of antipsychotic medications. Assessment of the neuroleptic malignant syndrome was carried out by using the Naranjo Algorithm Probability Scale which resulted in a highly probable reaction to haloperidol. The difficulties in establishing the diagnosis in this patient lead to late intervention resulting in a slow recovery and prolonged hospitalization.

Difficulties in diagnosing neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

This report describes a recent case of neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a rare adverse effect of antipsychotic medications. Assessment of the neuroleptic malignant syndrome was carried out by using the Naranjo Algorithm Probability Scale which resulted in a highly probable reaction to haloperidol. The difficulties in establishing the diagnosis in this patient lead to late intervention resulting in a slow recovery and prolonged hospitalization.