Introduction: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Risks Associated With Schizophrenia and Antipsychotic Drug Treatment

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With the development of the atypical antipsychotic drugs—clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and more to follow—has come an increasing understanding of the metabolic and cardiovascular side effects of these drugs, which have an impact on morbidity and mortality. These drugs represent major advances in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychotic depression, and senile psychoses, but differ in side effects. As with all drugs, this class has both its benefits and its risks, and many of those risks have only come to light recently.’ ‹