Neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Abstract

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is usually a serious neurologic side effect of antipsychotic therapy and characterized by fever, altered mental state, muscular rigidity, and dysautonomia. This chapter provides a contemporary account of NMS, a synthesis of a voluminous and perplexing literature on its pathobiology and management, and gives clear guidelines on the care and prognosis thereafter for patients who develop NMS.