Carbamazepine treatment of psychosis. Implications for patient welfare and nursing practice

1. The antiseizure medication carbamazepine, when used to treat psychosis, does not produce the same side effects that appear as problematic in neuroleptic treatment, most notably tardive dyskinesia. 2. Carbamazepine has useful sedating, antianxiety, and antidepressant properties that make it an effective treatment for manic psychosis. 3. Nursing actions include assisting psychiatry in establishing and maintaining effective carbamazepine treatment, ensuring safe treatment, enhancing the patient's self-care agency, and facilitating research regarding the effects of carbamazepine treatment.