[The patient under antidepressive and antipsychotic therapy]

The family physician is responsible for the primary medical care of a mentally ill person. Because these patients are frequently treated with antidepressants or antipsychotic drugs, the family physician should be well-informed of the indication, dosage and side effects of these substances. Among antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and newer substances usually have a more favorable side effect profile than tricyclic antidepressants (TCA). Atypical antipsychotic drugs show a lower risk for extrapyramidal motor disorders in contrast to conventional antipsychotic drugs. Undesired effects such as weight gain can, however, occur in all substance groups. The treatment of somatic comorbidities in these mentally ill patients and, likewise, the prophylaxis to prevent recurrence of depressive and schizophrenic diseases are also the responsibility of the family physician.