Key result
High-dose antipsychotics and immobility linked to pulmonary embolism during intensive psychiatric care.
Why the study?
Idiopathic thromboembolism can occur in psychiatric patients during inpatient treatment, with antipsychotic medication and inactivity as potential risk factors.
Case Report (n=1)
Highlights the risk of pulmonary embolism in psychiatric inpatients due to immobility and antipsychotic medication use.
May warrant increased PE vigilance in psychiatric inpatients on antipsychotics; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Idiopathic thromboembolism can occur in psychiatric patients who have been inactive during a period of inpatient hospital treatment. These patients are usually treated with antipsychotic medication which has also been reported to increase risk for thromboembolic disease. Here the authors describe a patient with neither prior history of thromboembolism nor any medical risk factors for thromboembolic disease, who was admitted with an acute relapse of psychotic illness. During the course of her intensive psychiatric treatment, she had chest pain and CT-pulmonary arteriogram revealed bilateral lower lobe pulmonary embolism. She was anticoagulated and made a full medical recovery. Treatment with high dosages of typical and atypical antipsychotic medication and a lack of mobility related to intensive nursing care and sedation were likely risk factors in her development of pulmonary emboli.
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McInerney et al. (2012) conducted a case report in Idiopathic pulmonary thromboembolism (n=1). High dosages of typical and atypical antipsychotic medication and lack of mobility was evaluated on Bilateral lower lobe pulmonary embolism. Treatment with high dosages of typical and atypical antipsychotic medication and lack of mobility during intensive psychiatric care were likely risk factors for the development of pulmonary emboli.
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