Physical Health and Drug Safety in Individuals with Schizophrenia.

Background: While antipsychotic medications are the mainstay of therapy for individuals with schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, their use is associated with adverse effects on physical health that require the attention and care of prescribers.

Methods: We used the ADAPTE process to adapt existing guideline recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines on the dosing of antipsychotics and antipsychotic polypharmacy, screening for adverse effects of antipsychotics, and management of metabolic and extrapyramidal side effects to the Canadian context.

Results: Prescribers are encouraged to use the lowest effective dose and to avoid the routine use of multiple antipsychotics.

The status of telepsychiatry services in Canada: a national survey.

A survey of Canadian telepsychiatry programmes was undertaken to provide information for future health services. Fourteen programmes were identified. They used a variety of service models and administrative arrangements.

Clinical and educational telepsychiatry applications: a review.

Objective: Telepsychiatry in the form of videoconferencing brings enormous opportunities for clinical care, education, research, and administration. Focusing on videoconferencing, we reviewed the telepsychiatry literature and compared telepsychiatry with services delivered in person or through other technologies.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of telepsychiatry literature from January 1, 1965, to July 31, 2003, using the terms telepsychiatry, telemedicine, videoconferencing, effectiveness, efficacy, access, outcomes, satisfaction, quality of care, education, empowerment, and costs.