title: Superwellness Program: a cognitive-behavioral therapy-based group intervention to reduce weight gain in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs.
abstract: To assess the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral therapy-based intervention (Superwellness Program) on weight gain compared with a treatment-as-usual (TAU) approach in patients treated with antipsychotics, and to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) variation and clinical variables.
  Eighty-five patients treated with antipsychotics were allocated across two groups, experimental (n=59) and control (n=26). The Superwellness Program (experimental group) consisted of 32 twice-weekly 1-hour sessions, conducted by a psychologist and a nutritionist/nurse, concurrently with moderate food intake and moderate physical activity plans. Sociodemographic, clinical, and biological variables were collected at baseline, at the end of intervention (16 weeks), and after 6 months.
  BMI change from baseline differed significantly between the experimental and control groups, with a larger decrease in the experimental group (F = 5.5, p = 0.021). Duration of illness moderated the effect of treatment on BMI (p = 0.026). No significant (p = 0.499) effect of intervention during the follow-up period was found. Interestingly, the intervention indirectly induced a significant (p = 0.024) reduction in metabolic risk by reducing BMI.
  A cognitive-behavioral therapy-based intervention could be useful in reducing weight in a clinical population taking antipsychotics, with consequent benefit to physical and mental health.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Unità di Psichiatria, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Magni
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Clarissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Unità di Psichiatria, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Staffieri
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uberti
authors.affiliation: Aulss 21, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale Legnago, VR, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lamonaca
authors.affiliation: Aulss 21, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale Legnago, VR, Italy.
authors.forename: Ileana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boggian
authors.affiliation: Aulss 21, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale Legnago, VR, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merlin
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale Treviglio ASST Bergamo Ovest, BG, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Primerano
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale Treviglio ASST Bergamo Ovest, BG, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mombrini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale ASST Cremona, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale A.O. Desenzano del Garda, BS, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Saviotti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale A.O. Desenzano del Garda, BS, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Caldera
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale A.O. Desenzano del Garda, BS, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanotti
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Unità di Psichiatria, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents