TITLE:
A psychiatric whodunit: Serotonin syndrome in the emergency department
AUTHORS:
Christopher Rodgman, Megan Thompson, Nicolas Vergara
KEYWORDS:
Serotonin Syndrome; Paroxetine; Emergency Department
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.2 No.4,
October
31,
2012
ABSTRACT: Serotonin syndrome is a life-threatening reaction associated with serotonergic agents. Its mortality is estimated around 11%, hence prompt diagnosis is necessary [1]. Given the variability of its presentation, physicians often misdiagnose this devastating condition. We present a case of serotonin syndrome seen in the Emergency Department by an on-call psychiatric resident and review the Hunter Serotonin Toxicity Criteria, emphasizing the importance of physician familiarity with these criteria.