The aim of our study was to monitor the occurrence of QT interval prolongation in a non selected population of psychiatrie patients treated with atypical antipsychotics in monotherapy and combined therapy. In conseeutive patients hospitalized at psychotic wards at the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicíně Masaryk University and Faculty Hospital Brno treated with these drugs a 12-lead ECG was recorded (50 mm/s, 20 mm/mV), QT intervals were measured manually, corrected according to Bazett. QTc intervals of 470 ms (females) and 450 ms (males) were considered borderline, longer QTc intervals were considered pathologic. ECGs were recorded in 351 patients, 180 males, 171 females. These were hospitalised with thediagnosis of schizophrenia (61.5%), bipolar disorder (21.5%) and other (17%). Abnormal QTc values were observed in 7 patients, 6 females and 1 male, 4 were borderline and 3 pathologic. Females were treated by monotherapy, males by combined therapy. Values associated with high risk of arrhythmias (over 500 ms) were not observed. This might be related to the generál trend to use lower doses and inereasing awareness about the drug-induced long QT syndrome.

        Key words: schizophrenia, atypical antipsychotics, side effects, QTc, ECG.