Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in mental healthcare: do the benefits outweigh the risks?

Venous thromboembolism is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In recent years, growing awareness has led to the development of strategies to prevent venous thromboembolism in individuals admitted to hospital who are deemed to be at high risk. However, there remains a considerable degree of uncertainty over whether these strategies are of overall benefit and there are few published studies on people who are admitted to psychiatric hospitals. In this editorial I review current clinical practice and areas of uncertainty with respect to venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and its implementation in mental healthcare settings.