Diabetes and schizophrenia - effect of disease or drug? Results from a randomized, double-blind, controlled prospective study in first-episode schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
There have been innumerable advances in the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia, but problems have emerged hand-in-glove, such as the presence of treatment-emergent glucose intolerance and frank diabetes mellitus (DM).


METHODS
Medication-naïve patients with schizophrenia (n = 99) underwent baseline fasting and 2 h post-prandial plasma glucose measurements repeated after 6 weeks after randomization to receive olanzapine, risperidone or haloperidol. The results were compared with a matched healthy control group.


RESULTS
A significant difference (P = 0.002) in baseline 2 h post-prandial blood sugar (PPBS) was noted between the control group and the treatment group along with a significant increase in weight (P < 0.001), fasting blood sugar (P = 0.01) and 2 h PPBS (P < 0.001) from baseline to endpoint between the groups. A statistical significance in the incidence of DM at endpoint by the WHO criteria (10.1%) was also noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Male patients with schizophrenia are liable to develop DM. Antipsychotic treatment leads to the development of DM in a significant 10.1% within 6 weeks.
Saddichha
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S
National Tobacco Control Program, WHO India, Bhubaneswar, India. saddichha@gmail.com
Manjunatha
N
N
Ameen
S
S
Akhtar
S
S
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D006220:Haloperidol; D000077152:Olanzapine