[Determination of cadmium level in passive tobacco smokers schizophrenia patients]

Schizophrenia is a long-term illness which concerns 1.4% of human population. It has been known as periodical or continuous, emotional or social disorder and it could cause substantial mental disability often leading to suicidal behavior or various other life threatening situations. Schizophrenic patients can not be classified as a homogenous group. The differences are caused by various psychopathological symptoms, different course of illness and different reactions to neuroleptic drugs among patients. Often these differences as well as connections with patients characteristics and symptoms of illness suggest the common name to the illness as "schizophrenia group" which includes mental illness of various etiopatogenesis and different psychobiological basis. Schizophrenia patients belong to the group of highest level of dependency on nicotine. It has been found that dependency on nicotine in this group is 1.5-2 times higher than in general population. Modern pharmacology started in 1952 when chlorpromazine was given for the first time to the mentally ill patients in St. Anne hospital in Paris. This breakthrough allowed mentally ill patients keep on undertaking treatments outside the hospital. The possibility of getting significant improvement in treatment of incurable, until now, illness paved the way for changes in general opinion about mental illness, particularly schizophrenia. Derivate of phenothiazine have been the oldest and most frequently used psychotropic drugs in Poland. They belong to the most numerous group of heterocyclic organic compounds which contains an aromatic triple-ring complex with atoms of sulfur and nitrogen. Therapeutic monitoring of drugs started at the end of sixties. Necessity of individualization of drugs in order to keep effectiveness and safety on proper level was an immediate answer to differences in intensity of pharmacological reaction to the drugs dosages among patients. Therapeutic monitoring is a method which anticipates a certain model of treatment depending on the results of clinical and pharmacological medical research. Therapy monitored by concentration of drug (TDM) is a mean to conduct therapy simultaneously with measuring concentration of drug in biological fluid. The results of lab research directly influence the dosages of drug.