Publication at First Faculty of Medicine |
2006
Abstract
Patients with schizophrenia are at increased risk of developing cardiac disease (CD) and there is well advised to screen CD and monitor patient´s physical health. Patients with schizophrenia are vulnerable to developing risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as obesity, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Myocarditis and cardiomyopathy are rarely reported complications of antipsychotic treatment. Despite of rare occurrence, the awareness of these adverse events is important because of their potentially fatal outcome. This review underlines the psychiatrist's role in monitoring of suspected cardiac adverse effects of antipsychotics.