What is NMSIS?

The recognition, diagnosis and treatment of NMS and related hyperthermic disorders, is critical in avoiding morbidity and mortality. However, there is often a lack of sufficient data or consensus on the management of NMS, and practitioners are often confused by the baffling differential diagnosis of uncommon but serious NMS-like disorders.

To assist clinicians and advance consensus and understanding of NMS, the Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Information Service (NMSIS) was founded in 1997 by the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS) in collaboration with a group of prominent experts with extensive experience in treating NMS. MHAUS expanded into this area due to its mission to become a world-wide source for clinical expertise in heat-related disorders.

HISTORY OF NMSIS

On Nov. 21, 1996, a meeting was held at the Philadelphia County Medical Society to discuss the development of an association to foster the study and recognition of neuroleptic malignant syndrome or NMS.  NMS was first identified in the 1960s as a dangerous side effect of certain medications used mostly to treat patients suffering from psychosis.  However, this side effect was not well known and was often missed by practicing clinicians.

To assist clinicians and advance consensus and understanding of NMS, the Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Information Service (NMSIS) was founded in 1997 by the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS) along with a group of prominent psychiatrists with extensive experience in researching and treating NMS.

NMSIS is endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Psychiatric Nurse Association (APNA), the Canadian Psychiatric Association and serves patients, families and medical professionals.  MHAUS expanded into this area in keeping with its mission to become a world-wide source for clinical expertise in heat-related disorders.

An NMS Hotline was established in the fall of 1997 to help medical professionals during an NMS emergency.  The NMS Hotline is staffed by 14 volunteer NMS expert medical professionals specializing in psychiatry and anesthesiology.

NMSIS has served as a unique, world-wide resource for information on NMS and related disorders.  In addition to its popular Hotline and website, NMSIS has published numerous educational pamphlets and articles for patients and professionals.  NMSIS has also sponsored several regional and national scientific symposia to increase knowledge of NMS and promote patient safety.

The Shah Educational Awareness Fund was established in 2000 thanks to the generous support of the Shah family to help support educational outreach and further the mission of NMSIS to prevent morbidity and mortality from NMS. A popular family-oriented pamphlet was recently supported through a generous gift from the Speakman family.

NMSIS is still growing!  A NMSIS staff person was hired in October 2004 to help develop NMSIS and to manage projects.   The website, www.nmsis.org, has been expanded and shows an increase from 122 visits per day to 200.  NMSIS offers an annual writing competition to recognize promising new psychiatric investigators who submit articles covering new insights on psychotropic drug safety and side effects. NMSIS plans to expand its educational programs to include web-based materials.  NMSIS also plans to develop consensus guidelines on the recognition and management of NMS.

Less than a decade since its inception, NMSIS continues its successful mission to research ways to educate patients and clinicians on NMS and related drug-induced disorders. 

Mission

The mission of NMSIS is to serve as an international resource center for educational and research initiatives to promote awareness, improve patient safety, and reduce morbidity and mortality in relation to heat-related disorders. These conditions are uncommon and may be unfamiliar to most practitioners, but can be encountered during the course of routine clinical practice in psychiatry and medicine.

Purpose

NMSIS is dedicated to reducing morbidity and mortality of NMS by improving medical and psychiatric care of patients with heat-related disorders; providing support information for medical professionals, patients and families, and improving scientific understanding of these conditions through research.

Goals

NMSIS has six primary goals: