title: Arterial Stiffness in Patients Taking Second-generation Antipsychotics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  That treatment with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) causes metabolic side effects and atherosclerosis in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD) is well-known. Increased arterial stiffness is an important marker of arteriosclerosis and has been identified as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. We measured pulse wave velocity (PWV) as a marker of arteriosclerosis in patients with schizophrenia and BD who use SGAs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients and controls were collected from our psychiatry outpatient clinics or family medicine. Mental illness was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition. Mean age, gender, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, Framingham risk score (FRS), etc. were determined. Simultaneous electrocardiography and pulse wave were recorded with an electromyography device. The photo-plethysmographic method was used to record the pulse wave. Inclusion criteria included use of SGAs for at least the last six months. Patients with diseases that are known to cause stiffness and the use of typical antipsychotics were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six subject (56 patients, 40 controls) were included in our study. There were 49 females, 47 males. Patients had schizophrenia (n=17) and BD (n=39). Their treatments were quetiapine (n=15), risperidone (n=13), olanzapine (n=15), and aripiprazole (n=13). Although differences in mean age, gender, and FRS in the patient and control groups were not statistically significant (p=1), PWV was greater in patients in the antipsychotic group (p=0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supported the liability to stiffness in patients with schizophrenia and BD. Using SGAs may contribute to arterial stiffness in these patients.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
authors: Ebru
authors: E
authors: Fındıklı
authors: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Gökçe
authors: Department of Pyhsical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
authors: Vedat
authors: V
authors: Nacitarhan
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Afsin State Hospital, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet Akif
authors: MA
authors: Camkurt
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Adıyaman University, Adıyaman, Turkey.
authors: Hüseyin Avni
authors: HA
authors: Fındıklı
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
authors: Selçuk
authors: S
authors: Kardaş
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
authors: Merve Coşgun
authors: MC
authors: Şahin
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet Fatih
authors: MF
authors: Karaaslan
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Bipolar disorder; Cardiovascular disorders; Pulse wave velocity; Schizophrenia; Second-generation antipsychotics