Atypical antipsychotics

Atypical Antipsychotics and Metabolic Monitoring

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This page provides informaton about BCCH's Provincial Mental Health Metabolic Program and about monitoring for the metabolic effects of atypical antipsychotic medication.

The following handouts are designed for health-care professionals caring for children or adolescents who will be starting or who are already using atypical antipsychotic medications:

Metabolic Assessment, Screening & Monitoring Tool (flowsheet) (2011/02/10)
Measurement Guide for Metabolic Assessment, Screening & Monitoring Tool (2010/08/22)
The Provincial Mental Health Metabolic Clinic (2011/05/06)
Referral Criteria for the PMHMC (2010/03/24)
How to Make a Referral to the PMHMC (2010/03/24)
Preprinted Orders for Inpatient Use (2010/07/22)
Physician Handbook for Metabolic Monitoring (2010/07/21)

The following handout is designed to gives to families of children or adolescents who will be starting or who are already using atypical antipsychotic medications:

Atypical Antipsychotics and Metabolic Monitoring (2010/02/24)

The Canadian Alliance for Monitoring Effectiveness and Safety of Antipsychotics in Children (CAMESA) Guideline Project of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have published guidelines for monitoring for complications and safety of second-generation antipsychotics in chilldren and adolescents in Canada:

Ho J, Panagiotopoulos C, McCrindle B, Grisaru S, Pringsheim T, for the CAMESA guideline group. Management recommendations for metabolic complications associated with second generation antipsychotic use in children and youth. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2011;20(3):234–241.
Pringsheim T, Panagiotopoulos C, Davidson J, Ho J, for the CAMESA guideline group. Evidence-based recommendations for monitoring safety of second generation antipsychotics in children and youth. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2011;20(3):218–233.

More information about mental health services for children and youth in BC is available online from the Kelty Resource Centre, a program of BC Mental Health & Addiction Services. They have developed a number of Healthy Living Toolkits for families and health professionals, which contain information, resources, and tools to help children and youth with mental health challenges develop healthy living habits.

Disclaimer: The following information, i.e. guideline/educational material/policy or procedure, has been developed for use only within British Columbia's Children's Hospital (BC Children’s). There are support systems at BC Children’s that may not exist in other clinical settings and therefore any adoption of these materials cannot be the responsibility of BC Children’s. Agencies other than BC Children’s should use this information as a guideline for reference purposes only. All materials are the property of BC Children’s and may only be reprinted in whole or in part with our expressed permission.

Page Last Updated: 10 October 2012

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