A Guide to the Extrapyramidal Side-effects of Antipsychotic Drugs - 9781107022867

Arguing that as long as dopamine antagonism is the target antipsychosis action, extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) may be to some extent inevitable depending on the parameters set, Owens presents this more than 80 percent rewritten second edition. He points out that, while there is much activity in the field of movement disorders today, the interest in EPS, per se, has diminished over the past 20 years. He provides some context with the history of antipsychotic drugs, and describes how the seeming lack of interest in EPS does not comport with the feedback he gets from patients. He posits the need for EPS to take center stage via risk-benefit appraisals for the use of antipsychotic drugs, and considers it an issue of paramount importance to all who prescribe and monitor compounds that disrupt nigrostriatal dopamine function, which he cites as a sizable group. The book targets psychiatrists, neurologists, primary care physicians, gastroenterologists, geriatricians, and those in emergency medicine and intensive care. There are 12 chapters divided into five parts: setting the scene; the syndromes; particular issues; assessment; matters arising. There are references, tables, and figures (illustrations. Annotation ©2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)