Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: a comprehensive review and update

ABSTRACT

Objective; neuroleptic malignant syndrome [NMS] is a life-threatening psychomedical emergency arising as a complication of neuroleptic therapy. This paper critically reviews this syndrome update the data and also identifies the areas where knowledge is deficient. an extensive online search through the years 1974 to 1995 was made and several related books and relevant papers published in different peer-reviewed national and international journals were located. the presentation of NMS in developing countries is like that of the developed nations, however, the specific pharmacotherapy and the guidelines recommended there are sparingly used to treat this syndrome in developing world where there is dearth of data on this syndrome. Conclusions: comparatively NMS is coupled with high morbidity and mortality in developing nations as it often underdiagnosed and undertreated. From this perspective there is a crucial need to launch a NMS awareness campaign among medical community in rapidly developing countries, however, at international level multicenter studies are needed to clarify many different facets of this syndrome