Successful implementation of cardiometabolic monitoring of patients treated with antipsychotics

Foley, Debra L; Morley, Katherine I; Carroll, Karyn E; Moran, John; McGorry, Patrick D; Murphy, Brendan P

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02920.x

Topics

To the Editor: A recent article in the Journal describes, again, barriers to implementation of cardiometabolic monitoring among patients prescribed antipsychotic drugs.1 The cardiac health of patients with psychosis is not routinely assessed at first presentation for mental health services, adverse side effects of antipsychotic drugs are not systematically monitored, and patients with treatable risk factors for heart disease are not identified.2

1 Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.
2 Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.
3 Melbourne Health, Melbourne, VIC.
4 School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC.
5 Recovery And Prevention of Psychosis Service, Southern Health, Melbourne, VIC.

Correspondence: dfoley@unimelb.edu.au

Acknowledgements:

Debra Foley is supported by the Colonial Foundation, Australia. Katherine Morley is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Post-doctoral Training Fellowship (grant no. 520452). Brendan Murphy holds a Diabetes Australia research grant.

1. Lambert TJ, Newcomer JW. Are the cardiometabolic complications of schizophrenia still neglected? Barriers to care. Med J Aust 2009; 190 (4 Suppl): S39-S42. <MJA full text>
2. Parks JJ. Implementing practice guidelines: lessons from public mental health settings. J Clin Psychiatry 2007; 68 Suppl 4: 45-48.
3. Lambert TJR, Chapman LH; Consensus Working Group. Diabetes, psychotic disorders and antipsychotic therapy: a consensus statement. Med J Aust 2004; 181: 544-548. <MJA full text>
4. Hennekens CH. Increasing global burden of cardiovascular disease in general populations and patients with schizophrenia. J Clin Psychiatry 2007; 68 Suppl 4: 4-7.
5. Lambert TJ, Velakoulis D, Pantelis C. Medical comorbidity in schizophrenia. Med J Aust 2003; 178 (9 Suppl): S67-S70. <MJA full text>

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