Changes in body weight and psychotropic drugs: a systematic synthesis of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Psychotropic medication use is associated with weight gain. While there are studies and reviews comparing weight gain for psychotropics within some classes, clinicians frequently use drugs from different classes to treat psychiatric disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To undertake a systematic review of all classes of psychotropics to provide an all encompassing evidence-based tool that would allow clinicians to determine the risks of weight gain in making both intra-class and interclass choices of psychotropics.


RESULTS
We developed a novel hierarchical search strategy that made use of systematic reviews that were already available. When such evidence was not available we went on to evaluate randomly controlled trials, followed by cohort and other clinical trials, narrative reviews, and, where necessary, clinical opinion and anecdotal evidence. The data from the publication with the highest level of evidence based on our hierarchical classification was presented. Recommendations from an expert panel supplemented the evidence used to rank these drugs within their respective classes. Approximately 9500 articles were identified in our literature search of which 666 citations were retrieved. We were able to rank most of the psychotropics based on the available evidence and recommendations from subject matter experts. There were few discrepancies between published evidence and the expert panel in ranking these drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
Potential for weight gain is an important consideration in choice of any psychotropic. This tool will help clinicians select psychotropics on a case-by-case basis in order to minimize the impact of weight gain when making both intra-class and interclass choices.
Weight Management Clinic, Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, Canada. bdent@ottawahospital.on.ca
Robert
R
Dent
Angelique
A
Blackmore
Joan
J
Peterson
Rami
R
Habib
Gary Peter
GP
Kay
Alan
A
Gervais
Valerie
V
Taylor
George
G
Wells
D001835:Body Weight; D006801:Humans; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs