THE USE OF ANTIPSYCHOTICS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE AND PERSISTENT CHRONIC MENTAL DISORDERS: A SCOPE REVIEW

Severe and persistent chronic mental disorders are a significant public health problem due to their high prevalence, prolonged evolution, significant functional impact, and continuous demand for care in health systems.In this scenario, antipsychotics are the main pharmacological class used in the clinical management of these conditions and are widely used in the treatment of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and severe forms of bipolar disorder, both in psychiatric hospitalization contexts and in community mental health services.The objective of this scoping review was to map and synthesize the scientific evidence produced in the last ten years on the use of antipsychotics in the management of these disorders.This is a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive review, conducted according to the Arksey and O'Malley (2005) framework and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, based on searches in national and international databases, covering studies published between 2015 and 2024.The results showed significant heterogeneity in terms of pharmacological classes and therapeutic regimens adopted, with a predominance of second-generation antipsychotics due to better tolerability, although concerns related to adverse metabolic effects persist.A high frequency of polypharmacy was also observed, especially in cases of greater clinical severity, as well as difficulties with adherence, insufficient monitoring, and weaknesses in coordination with psychosocial interventions.It is concluded that, despite being essential t , antipsychotics require rational use and effective integration with psychosocial approaches, aiming at greater safety and quality of mental health care.