title: Metabolic syndrome associated with schizophrenia and atypical antipsychotics.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital, Stephenville, NL, Canada. mehrul_hasnain@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mehrul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasnain
authors.forename: Sonja K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Fredrickson
authors.forename: W Victor R
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Vieweg
authors.forename: Anand K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pandurangi
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents