Contraindication
A clinical condition, circumstance, or factor that makes a particular treatment inadvisable or potentially harmful. In mental health, often refers to medication restrictions.
Full Definition
Contraindications represent specific situations where a medication, therapy, or intervention should not be used due to potential harm or reduced effectiveness. In psychiatric practice, contraindications may be absolute (never use) or relative (use with extreme caution). Examples include prescribing MAOIs to patients taking SSRIs (absolute) or using stimulants in patients with cardiovascular disease (relative). Thorough documentation of contraindications is essential for patient safety and medicolegal protection. Editors must verify that contraindication information aligns with current prescribing guidelines and drug interaction databases.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish between absolute and relative contraindications in clinical documentation. Use singular/plural forms appropriately.
In Context
- "History of narrow-angle glaucoma represents an absolute contraindication for anticholinergic medications." — Psychiatric consultation
- "The prescriber documented contraindications carefully before initiating lithium therapy." — Medication administration record