Treating Patients with Antipsychotics: an Individualized Management

Abstract

Introduction: Subjective well-being, quality of life, cognition and psychosocial performance, including employment, have become endpoints of interest and goals for patients, families, clinicians and researchers. In this line, it is important to clarify the adverse effects caused by antipsychotics in order to innovate and complement treatment of patients with an individualize approach according to the patient’s needs and predispositions.

Objectives: Discuss new treatment’s way for patients using antipsychotics, elucidating the pros and cons of their use.

Results: Atypical antipsychotics cause weight gain and lead to a higher risk of diabetes and other metabolic sequelae than their typical counterparts. Besides, second-generation(atypical) has also shown adverse effects like: akathisia, sedation, abnormal metabolic laboratory results, and weight gain. On the other hand, talking about the fist-gentration (typical) antipsychotics, their clinical effectiveness is challenged by increased acute and chronic extrapyramidal side effects and related symptoms of dysphoria, compared to second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics. In addition, available evidence indicates that antipsychotic medications increase the risk of cerebrovascular adverse events (CVAEs) and death when used to treat elderly patients with Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD). Besides, some studies show that patient populations that are prescribed antipsychotic agents have a higher cardiovascular mortality rate than the general population. Considering that, we can see that each psychotic patient will need an individualized treatment according to their physical, social and psychological limitations and needs, leading us to realize the signifiance of this paper since it emphasizes the holistic management of this kind of patient.

Conclusion: With the aim of known safety concerns and uncertainty over long-term risks and benefis, it is clear the need to reevaluate clinical practice standard and strengthen efforts to educate especially primary care physicians, concerning the known safety and effiacy of antipsychotic medications to give the patients a treatment that is based on their quality of life.