Description
The clinical biochemistry laboratory has an important
role to play in the management of patients with mental
disorders, principally as the psychiatrist relies on the
laboratory tests to exclude physical disorders masquerading as
mental disorders. In addition, biochemical changes are
observed in patients with psychiatric disorders and a number
of the psychotropic drugs used in these patients can result in
biochemical complications. We provide the reader with an
update on biochemical changes underlying psychiatric
disorders. New diagnostic tests are likely to emerge which
will be performed in clinical biochemistry departments to aid
psychiatrists in the management of their patients.
