Risk for definite neuroleptic malignant syndrome. A prospective study in 223 consecutive in-patients

• Published in: British journal of psychiatry Vol. 161; p. 254
• Main Authors: Hermesh, H, Aizenberg, D, Weizman, A, Lapidot, M, Mayor, C, Munitz, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-08-1992
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Antipsychotic Agents - administration & dosage; Antipsychotic Agents - adverse effects; Bipolar Disorder - drug therapy; Bipolar Disorder - psychology; Creatine Kinase - blood; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Haloperidol - administration & dosage; Haloperidol - adverse effects; Hospitalization; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Male; Methotrimeprazine - administration & dosage; Methotrimeprazine - adverse effects; Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - diagnosis; Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - etiology; Neurologic Examination - drug effects; Perphenazine - administration & dosage; Perphenazine - adverse effects; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Schizophrenia - drug therapy; Schizophrenic Psychology
• ISSN: 0007-1250
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.161.2.254

The occurrence of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) was studied prospectively in two series of consecutive psychiatric in-patients (n = 223). The first group (n = 120) suffered from schizophrenia and was treated only with haloperidol. The second group (n = 103) was treated with diverse neuroleptics. All patients were on a single antipsychotic agent with no anticholinergic drug as prophylaxis. The incidence of full NMS per admission and first neuroleptic exposure was 5/223 (2.2%). Patients with bipolar affective disorder and those treated with injections were significantly over-represented in the NMS group.