title: Antipsychotics and physical attractiveness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antipsychotics are effective in treating the symptoms of schizophrenia, but they may induce adverse effects, some of which-those that impact negatively on physical appearance-have not been sufficiently discussed in the psychiatric literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Through a narrative review, to catalog antipsychotic side effects that interfere with physical attractiveness and to suggest ways of addressing them.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed databases were searched for information on the association between "antipsychotic side effects" and "attractiveness" using those two search phrases plus the following terms: "weight," "teeth," "skin," "hair," "eyes," "gait," "voice," "odor." Data from relevant qualitative and quantitative articles were considered, contextualized, and summarized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antipsychotics, as a group, increase weight and may lead to dry mouth and bad breath, cataracts, hirsutism, acne, and voice changes; they may disturb symmetry of gait and heighten the risk for tics and spasms and incontinence, potentially undermining a person's attractiveness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians need to be aware of the impact of therapeutic drugs on appearance and how important this issue is to patients. Early in treatment, they need to plan preventive and therapeutic strategies.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. mary.seeman@utoronto.ca
authors: Mary V
authors: MV
authors: Seeman
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001504:Beauty; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004954:Esthetics / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D009042:Motivation; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012649:Self Concept
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents