title: Metabolic syndrome in drug-naïve and drug-free patients with schizophrenia and in their siblings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We tested the hypothesis that metabolic disturbances in people with schizophrenia exist as a part of the schizophrenic syndrome, even when the antipsychotic drug effect is eliminated. We aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with schizophrenia who were antipsychotic drug-naive or drug-free and their siblings for comparison with healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred-two patients with schizophrenia (drug-naïve or drug-free), 64 siblings and 70 age-matched healthy subjects were recruited for this case-control study. Metabolic syndrome was assessed based on Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III, adapted ATP III and International Diabetes Federation criteria. Student's t-tests, chi-squared tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests and Bonferroni corrections were used as appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diagnoses of metabolic syndrome and metabolic disturbances as a subsyndromal state were found to be significantly more frequent in patients and their siblings than in the controls. Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and disturbances in blood pressure put the patient group at risk for metabolic syndrome even before they were exposed to antipsychotic drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although antipsychotic drugs have consistently been related to disturbances of glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with schizophrenia, this study showed that patients with schizophrenia and their siblings are already at a high risk for metabolic syndrome independent of any antipsychotic effects. These individuals should be monitored regularly following a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Kanuni SS Training and Research Hospital, Turkey. Electronic address: aenez5280@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Aslı
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Enez Darcin
authors.affiliation: Madalyon Psychiatry Center, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sercin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yalcin Cavus
authors.affiliation: Uskudar University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nesrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dilbaz
authors.affiliation: Gaziantep State Hospital, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.affiliation: Viransehir State Hospital, Turkey.
authors.forename: Eylem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dogan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: Drug free; Drug naive; Metabolic syndrome; Schizophrenia; Siblings