The effect of long-term antipsychotic treatment on the body weight of patients suffering from chronic schizophrenia: clozapine versus classical antipsychotic agents.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term clozapine treatment on body weight changes in neuroleptic-resistant chronic schizophrenic patients and to compare it with that of classical antipsychotic agents. The body mass index (BMI) of 96 neuroleptic-resistant chronic schizophrenic patients was calculated before the beginning and after long-term (mean +/- SD 1.7 +/- 1.3 years) clozapine treatment. These data were compared to the BMI of 98 chronic schizophrenic patients maintained on classical antipsychotic agents for a similar duration (mean +/- SD 1.9 +/- 1.6 years). A significant elevation in BMI was detected in both groups during these periods (P < 0.0001 versus baseline, for both groups). The change in BMI (delta BMI) was similar in both groups (P < 0.9). We conclude that the increase in body weight caused by long-term (> 6 months) clozapine treatment is comparable to that obtained following long-term classical antipsychotic agents treatment.
Spivak
B
B
Ness-Ziona Mental Health Center, Israel.
Musin
E
E
Mester
R
R
Gonen
N
N
Talmon
Y
Y
Guy
N
N
Roitman
S
S
Kupchik
M
M
Kotler
M
M
Weizman
A
A
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine