title: Youth, caregiver, and prescriber experiences of antipsychotic-related weight gain.
abstract: Objectives. To explore the lived experience of youth, caregivers, and prescribers with antipsychotic medications. Design. We conducted a qualitative interpretive phenomenology study. Youth aged 11 to 25 with recent experience taking antipsychotics, the caregivers of youth taking antipsychotics, and the prescribers of antipsychotics were recruited. Subjects. Eighteen youth, 10 caregivers (parents), and 11 prescribers participated. Results. Eleven of 18 youth, six of ten parents, and all prescribers discussed antipsychotic-related weight gain. Participants were attuned to the numeric weight changes usually measured in pounds. Significant discussions occurred around weight changes in the context of body image, adherence and persistence, managing weight increases, and metabolic effects. These concepts were often inextricably linked but maintained the significance as separate issues. Participants discussed tradeoffs regarding the perceived benefits and risks of weight gain, often with uncertainty and inadequate information regarding the short- and long-term consequences. Conclusion. Antipsychotic-related weight gain in youth influences body image and weight management strategies and impacts treatment courses with respect to adherence and persistence. In our study, the experience of monitoring for weight and metabolic changes was primarily reactive in nature. Participants expressed ambiguity regarding the short- and long-term consequences of weight and metabolic changes.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy and Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, 5968 College Street, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4R2.
authors.forename: Andrea Lynn
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, QEII HSC, AJLB 7517, 5909 Veterans' Memorial Lane, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 2E2.
authors.forename: David Martin
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4021-2924
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kisely
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Wellness, Barrington Tower, P.O. Box 488, Halifax, NS, Canada B3J 2R8.
authors.forename: Charmaine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.affiliation: Dalhousie University, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University/IWK Health Centre 5850 University Avenue, P.O. Box 9700, Halifax, NS, Canada B3K 6R8.
authors.forename: Stanley Paul
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kutcher
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, 5869 University Avenue, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4R2.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hughes