title: Weight change in treatment with olanzapine and a psychoeducational approach.
abstract: This study assesses the efficacy of an educational and dietary approach in preventing olanzapine-induced weight gain. Eighteen patients affected by schizophrenic disorders were treated with olanzapine and weighed twice-weekly for 24 weeks. A psychoeducational intervention and referral to a nutritionist was introduced from the beginning of olanzapine treatment in 9 patients, and from the 9th week of therapy in 8 patients. Results showed that after 8 weeks of olanzapine treatment, weight gain was contained in the subjects receiving intervention unlike patients without preventive intervention (+0.99+/-3.34 kg vs. +2.96+/-3.08 kg; p<.03). At the end of the trial these patients partly shed their gain (-1.77 kg), presenting a final weight which was not significantly different from baseline (+1.19 kg). Subjects receiving the psychoeducational approach from the beginning were significantly heavier than at baseline (+3.4 kg). Poor dietary compliance correlated significantly with an increase in body weight, while higher mean dosages of olanzapine correlated with better weight-gain control.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Department, ULSS 16 Padova, Italy. scocco.paolo@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scocco
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine