Identifying adequacy of hyperprolactinemia assessment in patients on antipsychotics under a specific community mental health team in Southwark

Nearly half of people taking first-generation antipsychotics experience sexual dysfunction, yet doctors often fail to check for the underlying cause—a hormone imbalance called hyperprolactinemia. This matters because antipsychotics that block D2 receptors can raise prolactin levels, and as a 2002 study by Smith and colleagues showed, this effect likely overrides other causes of sexual dysfunction in these patients. The problem is that clinical assessments and blood tests for prolactin are frequently skipped, leaving a common and distressing side effect unaddressed. This project will scan electronic health records from a community mental health team in Southwark to determine how often clinicians actually assess for signs of hyperprolactinemia—both through symptom checks and lab monitoring. If the research reveals gaps in assessment, it could lead to simple changes in clinical practice: routine prolactin blood tests and structured questions about sexual side effects during patient reviews. That would not only improve quality of life for people on antipsychotics but also reduce the risk of long-term complications from untreated hyperprolactinemia, such as bone density loss. The work is a focused audit of current care, not a fundamental discovery—but its findings could directly reshape how a common, overlooked side effect is managed in mental health services.