title: Effects of an educational intervention on weight gain in patients treated with antipsychotics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing numbers of reports have raised concerns about significant increases in weight and adiposity over both short- and long-term treatment in patients treated with antipsychotics (APs). The management of overweight and obesity in patients treated with APs has included pharmacological interventions, dietary suggestions, and behavioral strategies. Nevertheless, current evidence does not support the use of pharmacological management of this specific type of obesity, and only a limited number of studies have been published regarding prevention and treatment of weight gain with other strategies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention (EI) that combines low-calorie diet with increased physical activity to prevent and treat weight gain in patients treated with APs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from 53 subjects whose body mass index (BMI) had increased by more than 7% after starting an AP therapy and who consented to participate in a 12-week educational intervention study aimed at preventing further weight gain and, when possible, at inducing a weight loss. Weight and BMI were measured at baseline (at each of the monthly follow-up visits) and at study completion 12 weeks from entry in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six patients completed the 12-week program. Completers showed a significant mean body weight decrease of 3.15 kg, with a mean BMI reduction of 1.2 (kg/m) at the end of the 3-month period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educational intervention can be an important tool for the management of weight increase in patients treated with APs. A larger prospective and controlled study is now needed to confirm our findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pisa School of Medicine, Via Roma, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mauri
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castrogiovanni
authors.forename: Marly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simoncini
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iovieno
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miniati
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dell'Agnello
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fagiolini
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Donda
authors.forename: Giovanni Battista
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Cassano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents