[Creatine phosphokinase in a hospitalized psychiatric population]

Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) is studied in psychiatric hospitalized patients under neuroleptic treatment in order to clarify the diagnostic value of this enzyme in the neuroleptic malignant syndrome (SNM). Intramuscular drug administration was, in the present study, the only variable associated with CPK levels over 1,000 U. Other items studied, like agitation, physical restraint or illness severity can not account for this elevation. In absence of i.m. medication, levels over 1,000 U must be carefully screened in order to rule out SNM or organic pathology associated.