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Metabolic Syndrome Associated with Schizophrenia and Atypical Antipsychotics

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Abstract

Patients with schizophrenia are at increased risk for developing the metabolic syndrome or its individual components due to their lifestyle, suspected genetic predisposition, and exposure to antipsychotic medications that can cause weight gain and other metabolic side effects. Despite the availability of clinical guidelines, screening for and monitoring of metabolic problems in this patient population continue to be suboptimal. We provide an overview specifically addressing 1) why patients with schizophrenia are at increased risk for metabolic problems; 2) how commonly used antipsychotic medications vary in terms of their metabolic liability; 3) how to effectively screen for and monitor metabolic problems in patients receiving antipsychotic medications; 4) what interventions can prevent, limit, or reverse the metabolic side effects of antipsychotic drug treatment; and 5) what are the barriers to the care of these patients.

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Disclosure

Dr. Anand K. Pandurangi was on the speakers’ bureau of AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen, and Pfizer and Ranbaxy Pharmaceutical Companies. No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital, 42 Minnesota Drive, Stephenville, NL, A2N2V6, Canada

    Mehrul Hasnain

  2. Medicine Services, Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA, 23249, USA

    Sonja K. Fredrickson

  3. Departments of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 17 Runswick Drive, Richmond, VA, 23238-5414, USA

    W. Victor R. Vieweg

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1200 East Broad Street, West Hospital Room 8311, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA

    Anand K. Pandurangi

Authors
  1. Mehrul Hasnain
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  2. Sonja K. Fredrickson
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  3. W. Victor R. Vieweg
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  4. Anand K. Pandurangi
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Correspondence to Mehrul Hasnain.

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Hasnain, M., Fredrickson, S.K., Vieweg, W.V.R. et al. Metabolic Syndrome Associated with Schizophrenia and Atypical Antipsychotics. Curr Diab Rep 10, 209–216 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-010-0112-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-010-0112-8

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