The patient with neurological and psychological disorders

‘Neurological disease’ is a broad term used collectively to describe a wide range of disorders affecting the brain, spinal cord or peripheral nerves. The World Health Organization has estimated that neurological (including neuropsychiatric) conditions account for over 11% of the overall burden of disease in high-income countries. These conditions may be life threatening, many are symptomatically disabling and all have the potential to negatively affect quality of life. Patients with neurological and psychiatric disease are at increased risk of perioperative complications with common themes emerging, notably the challenges of perioperative medication management and the impact of associated co-morbidity. This article will explore commonly encountered disorders and the perioperative issues pertinent to these patients and those caring for them.