Neuroleptic malignant syndrome in 12 of 9,792 Chinese inpatients exposed to neuroleptics: a prospective study

In a prospective study of an estimated 9,792 inpatients treated with neuroleptic medication at a large Chinese psychiatric hospital, 12 patients developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome. The estimated prevalence of neuroleptic malignant syndrome in these psychiatric inpatients was 1.23/1,000 (95% confidence interval = 0.63/1,000 to 2.14/1,000). Unlike other investigators, the authors found that young adulthood, nonschizophrenic illness, oral high-potency neuroleptics, and concurrent use of lithium were not important risk factors for neuroleptic malignant syndrome. However, depot fluphenazine decanoate, particularly if used without an antiparkinsonian agent, was a risk factor.