Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: Can Be an Unrecognized Chronic Fatal Disease.

This case report concentrates on the fatal consequences of the chronic aspects of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). It is a life-threatening side effect and has been identified since antipsychotics were developed. Efforts to highlight the propensity to develop NMS for those more sensitive to psychotropic medications have been infrequent.

Among the Severely Mentally Ill, Who Responds to Ziprasidone?

So far, demographic variables have not consistently been found to predict clinical response to antipsychotics. This study examines some differences in response to ziprasidone, which has been shown to be effective, with a better metabolic side effect profile, but was little used in New York State Hospitals. The aim was to study state hospital patients switched to ziprasidone.

Cardiac Arrest with Clozapine and Olanzapine: Revealing Long QT Syndrome.

The authors describe a rare case of "concealed" congenital Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) Type 3 in a patient with treatment resistant schizophrenia and no known personal or family history of cardiac disease. The patient in this Case Report had a hidden genetic condition revealed only following the essential administration of antipsychotics. As a result, this patient experienced an aborted cardiac arrest and a total of five episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) requiring cardioversion.

Among the severely mentally ill, who responds to ziprasidone?

So far, demographic variables have not consistently been found to predict clinical response to antipsychotics. This study examines some differences in response to ziprasidone, which has been shown to be effective, with a better metabolic side effect profile, but was little used in New York State Hospitals. The aim was to study state hospital patients switched to ziprasidone.

Sialorrhea and aspiration pneumonia: a case study.

This case study compares two different clinical outcomes for a patient with a long-standing psychotic disorder prescribed clozapine on two occasions. During the first trial, clozapine was used at a higher dose for this patient (350-450mg/day) and included clinically significant sialorrhea, pneumonia, and pneumonia-like illnesses requiring immediate medical intervention including hospitalization. There were also patient complaints of fatigue, cough, choking, and constipation leading to poor adherence.

Individuals with threatening or violent criminal behavior: civil commitment or release after incarceration?

Patients who have diagnoses of a major mental illness and an antisocial personality disorder present administrative, clinical, legal, and ethical challenges. Based on an actual case, the authors discuss how clinicians could fulfill the obligation to the patient, mental health system, judicial system, and the community under these circumstances. We explore how clinical presentation of symptomatology and criminal behavior contribute to challenges in determining psychiatric care.

Risperidone long-acting injections: successful alternative deltoid muscle injections for refractory schizophrenia.

Treatment-resistant paranoid schizophrenia is often addressed with long-term intramuscular preparations of conventional antipsychotics (haloperidol and fluphenazine), which can be associated with the development of painful, lumpy nodules at the injection site. In this article, we present a case example of a 58-year-old male patient with paranoid schizophrenia who was treated with risperidone long-acting injection given into the deltoid muscle instead of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved gluteal muscle injection site. Use of this agent in the deltoid muscle facilitated healing of the numerous painful lumpy nodules associated with prior trials of conventional long-acting injections.

Continuing day treatment programs promote recovery in schizophrenia: a case-based study.

Continuing day treatment programs focus on community stabilization through comprehensive individualized rehabilitation. They promote recovery through a variety of practical clinical therapeutic interventions. This empirically based report describes a continuing day treatment program's rehabilitation of four clients with schizophrenia, chronic type in a western New York mental health clinic who were in each of the specialty services: a two-phase program, a program for seniors, and a program for co-occurring substance dependence.