title: First-episode affective psychosis and lipid monitoring: survival analysis of the first abnormal lipid test.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the probability of developing a lipid test abnormality over time, among first-time users of antipsychotic medications with affective psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survival analysis was used to analyse data from an early intervention in psychosis programme for the first 53 consecutive and eligible cases of patients between the ages of 14 and 40 years who had a diagnosis of affective psychosis. Data on initiation of antipsychotic medications and lipid laboratory test results were abstracted from chart reviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within the first 18 months of receiving antipsychotic medications, the probability of surviving without an abnormal lipid test was only 25% (confidence interval 95%: 13.1%, 40.4%). The median time to the development of an abnormal test was 8 months for males and 12 months for females (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional studies are needed to document the incidence over time of abnormal lipid tests to inform clinicians about the optimal frequency of monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Archie
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zangeneh-Kazemi
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Noori
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akhtar-Danesh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000378:metabolism*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: affective disorder; antipsychotic drug; dyslipidaemia; psychotic; survival analysis