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Subject Area

Dermatology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective This study aimed at assessing the risk factors causing metabolic dysregulations in schizophrenia patients on antipsychotics treatment. Background Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness with wide prevalence of high mortality and morbidity rates associated with high prevalence of metabolic syndrome that is characterized by hyperglycemia, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Patients and methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 40 patients suffering from schizophrenia taking typical and atypical antipsychotics only (groups I and II, respectively). Detailed general medical, neurological history, examination, and psychiatric history were taken from patients. Results Results revealed insignificant difference among groups regarding gender, age of onset ( first episode, last episode), duration of last period of treatment and total illness, blunted effect, poor rapport, emotional withdrawal, lack of spontaneity of conversation, and difficulty in abstract and stereotyping thinking; in contrast, the number of relapses were increased significantly in groups. However, insignificant differences were detected between baseline and after 6 months regarding blood elements, triglyceride, 2 h postprandial, and liver and kidney function. Conclusion Schizophrenia as a syndrome can by itself produce metabolic abnormalities. It is usually treated with first-generation and/or second-generation antipsychotics, which also can produce metabolic adverse events, but the second-generation antipsychotics can produce more frequently and severely. There were some dysregulations obvious only with typical antipsychotics. The lipid and glucose metabolism were significantly dysregulated after 6 months, but it did not reach the threshold of diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or pathological dyslipidemia. In addition, healthier lifestyle, low carbohydrate and fatty meal consumption, good premorbid metabolic parameters, and good choice of antipsychotic help in prognosis of metabolic status of schizophrenic patients.

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