Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a predictor of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. Common features include hypertension, central obesity, glucose intolerance/insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. People with schizophrenia may have an increased risk partly related to lifestyle such as smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise and, possibly, the illness itself. However, the most important factor related to weight gain in people with schizophrenia is the use of antipsychotics.
All antipsychotics have a different degree of risk of causing metabolic syndrome.5 While there is some uncertainty about the precise relationship between schizophrenia, metabolic problems and antipsychotic medication, there is agreement that at least yearly physical health screening is required for people prescribed antipsychotic drugs in the long-term.