Mental Disorders
Perhaps the most important preoperative consideration for patients
with mental disorders, in addition to developing rapport, is understanding their
specific drug therapy and its effects and side effects. More than 15% of all adult
patients undergoing surgery are taking one of these therapies or have recently been
taking one of these therapies. Lithium, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors, other antidepressants that defy classification such as bupropion,
phenothiazines, butyrophenones, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors are used in these
patients.[683]
These drugs have potent effects
and side effects that are discussed in the last section of this chapter.
