The relationship between atypical antipsychotics drugs, QT interval prolongation, and torsades de pointes: implications for clinical use.

: Increased mortality has been observed in patients with mental health disorders. Specifically, exposure to antipsychotic medications conveys a greater than 2 fold risk of sudden death, thought to be mediated through effects on QT prolongation and risk of torsades de pointes.: We review the association between antipsychotic drugs and sudden cardiac death, the physiologic basis for these associations, assessment of patients at risk, and strategies to minimize risk of sudden cardiac death.