Why do psych pt recieve a CBC

[rdm3000]

I'm sorry if this isnt the right place to ask this question, but I'm wondering because there is a place in my careplan asking me about it. Thanks.

[pinkiepie_RN]

A good majority of psych patients are on medications (atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants, and lithium to name a few) that can have side effects on WBC, CBC and the like. Routine labwork is drawn to ensure that medication levels are within the min/max therapeutic dose and that patients are receiving the smallest dose with the most efficacy for them.

http://www.bcmhas.ca/NR/rdonlyres/B934A4E0-29FE-49D5-985C-E1BDD8D6648D/19810/labmonitoringmoodstabilizersOct1006.pdf - an interesting chart with a breakdown of recommended labs for each psych med

http://www.angelfire.com/ns/southeasternnurse/PsychDrugs.html; http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm - both websites contain an overview of commonly prescribed psych drugs and their side effects

Hope this helps! :)

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Just to clarify, a CBC is not a measurement of any therapeutic drug dosages. A CBC is a screening test that provides information about the hematologic system and overall health of the person as well as their response to any diseases they may have and the treatment they are receiving for them. The CBC is the most performed blood test.

[Farza]

complete blood count.

[rachelgeorgina]

Medication is one (e.g. lithium toxicity might be shown as dehydration, which you'd see in routine blood work as well as lithium levels, though perhaps not an FBC. More likely an EUC.)

Consider eating disorder pts that come in with totally screwy bodies and systems. Or chemical dependancy pts who might not have eaten/cared for their bodies as a result of their diagnosis/addiction. An FBC would be the first test on the pathology order.