1
Assessment
Table 1. Suggested Physical and Laboratory Assessments
for Patients with Schizophrenia
Assessment Initial or Baseline Follow-Up
Assessments to monitor physical status and detect concomitant physical conditions
Vital signs Pulse, blood pressure,
temperature
Pulse, blood pressure, temperature,
every visit when possible and always
as clinically indicated, particularly as
medication doses are titrated
Body weight
and height
Body weight, height,
and calculate BMI; waist
circumference when possible
BMI every visit for 6 months aer
changing antipsychotic medications
and at least quarterly thereaer for
outpatients; monthly for inpatients
Hematolog y CBC Weekly for clozapine treated
patients, and decrease intervals as
appropriate. Whenever indicated for
other antipsychotics, when clinically
indicated and when considering
possibility of neutropenia
Blood
chemistries
Renal function tests
(BUN/creatinine ratio)
Electrolytes
Lipid panel
Liver function tests
yroid function tests
Infectious
diseases
Test for syphilis
Tests for hepatitis C and HIV
As clinically indicated
Pregnancy Consider pregnancy test
for women of childbearing
potential
Toxicolog y Drug toxicolog y screen, heavy
metal screen, if clinically
indicated
Drug toxicolog y screen, if clinically
indicated
Imaging/EEG EEG, brain imaging (CT
or MRI, with MRI being
preferred), if clinically indicated
Assessments related to possible side effects of treatment
Diabetes Screening for diabetes risk
factors; fasting blood glucose
Fasting blood glucose or hemoglobin
a1c at no longer than 4 months aer
initiating a new treatment and annually
thereaer for outpatients; more
frequently (monthly to quarterly) for
inpatients depending upon the agent
(with high risk agents such as clozapine
and olanzapine assessed more frequently)
Hyperlipidemia Lipid panel At least every 5 years is recommended
by APA/ADA but no longer followed.
Now at least semi-annually and more
frequently for high risk agents such as
clozapine and olanzapine
