Risk of serotonin syndrome with complementary and alternative medicines: importance to child and adolescent psychiatry
Suau, G.M.; Martínez, K.G.
Boletin de la Asociacion Medica de Puerto Rico 101(1): 47-50
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-4849 PMID: 19954088 Document Number: 702593
Evaluate how child and adolescent psychiatrists rate themselves regarding their knowledge and clinical skills in assessing interactions between non-prescribed complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and prescribed medications. A brief questionnaire about the practice of asking patients about CAM use was given to child and adolescent psychiatrists. The questionnaire was completed by 20 child and adolescent psychiatrists. Only 35% of the sample stated that they always asked about CAM use although 55% stated that they aware of the importance of prescribed drug interactions with CAM. Of the sample, 90% stated that they could recognize serotonin syndrome, but only 65% answered correctly to the description of the syndrome. Given a list of possible CAM that could interact with prescribed drugs to produce serotonin syndrome, only 10% identified all the drugs correctly. CAM training should be included in training programs and in continued education curriculums for practicing child psychiatrists.
Document emailed within 1 workday
