Psychiatrists' attitudes toward metabolic adverse events in patients with schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
There is growing concern about the metabolic abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the attitudes of psychiatrists toward metabolic adverse events in patients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
A BRIEF QUESTIONNAIRE WAS CONSTRUCTED TO COVER THE FOLLOWING BROAD AREAS: the psychiatrists' recognition of the metabolic risk of antipsychotic therapy, pattern of monitoring patients for physical risks, practice pattern for physical risks, and knowledge of metabolic disturbance. In March 2012, the questionnaire was mailed to 8,482 psychiatrists who were working at hospitals belonging to the Japan Psychiatric Hospitals Association.


RESULTS
The overall response rate was 2,583/8,482 (30.5%). Of the respondents, 85.2% (2,200/2,581) reported that they were concerned about prescribing antipsychotics that have a risk of elevating blood sugar; 47.6% (1,201/2,524) stated that their frequency of monitoring patients under antipsychotic treatment was based on their own experiences; and only 20.6% (5,22/2,534) of respondents answered that the frequency with which they monitored their patients was sufficient to reduce the metabolic risks.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychiatrists practicing in Japan were generally aware and concerned about the metabolic risks for patients being treated with antipsychotics. Although psychiatrists should monitor their patients for metabolic abnormalities to balance these risks, a limited number of psychiatrists answered that the frequency with which they monitored patients to reduce the metabolic risks was sufficient. Promotion of the best practices of pharmacotherapy and monitoring is needed for psychiatrists treating patients with schizophrenia.
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan ; Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology, Tokyo, Japan.
Norio
N
Sugawara
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan ; Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology, Tokyo, Japan.
Norio
N
Yasui-Furukori
Japan Psychiatric Hospitals Association, Tokyo, Japan.
Manabu
M
Yamazaki
Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology, Tokyo, Japan ; Department of Psychiatry, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Mibu, Japan.
Kazutaka
K
Shimoda
Japan Psychiatric Hospitals Association, Tokyo, Japan.
Takao
T
Mori
Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology, Tokyo, Japan ; Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
Takuro
T
Sugai
Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology, Tokyo, Japan ; Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
Yutaro
Y
Suzuki
Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology, Tokyo, Japan ; Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
Toshiyuki
T
Someya
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001364:Awareness; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011570:Psychiatry; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose