Metabolic changes in patients undergoing treatment with atypical antipsychotics – a prospective investigation

Impaired fasting glucose and insulin sensitivity, increased blood lipids and weight gain are severe metabolic side effects that do occur regularly in patients undergoing treatment with atypical antipsychotic agents. The underlying mechanisms are intensively investigated but still remain far from elucidation. Indirect effects moderated by weight gain as well as direct effects on glucose and lipid homoeostasis are supposed to be involved. We performed a prospective study in 19 antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenic patients, who underwent monotherapy with different atypical agents. Assessments included a broad laboratory assessment including TNF-α, Il-6, BDNF and NFG, Leptin and Adiponectin, complete anthropometric data, oral glucose tolerance tests and basal energy expenditure. Data from a 4 week treatment duration will be presented, and possible mechanisms and pathophysiological pathways of drug-induced metabolic changes will be discussed based on the presented data.