AUTHOR=Rojnic Kuzman Martina , Bosnjak Kuharic Dina , Kekin Ivana , Makaric Porin , Madzarac Zoran , Koricancic Makar Ana , Kudlek Mikulic Suzan , Bajic Zarko , Bistrovic Petra , Bonacin Dora , Vogrinc Zeljka
TITLE=Effects of Long-Term Multimodal Psychosocial Treatment on Antipsychotic-Induced Metabolic Changes in Patients With First Episode Psychosis
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry
VOLUME=9
YEAR=2018
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00488
DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00488
ISSN=1664-0640
ABSTRACT=Background: Antipsychotic-induced weight gain and metabolic abnormalities are one of the major challenges in the treatment of psychosis, contributing to the morbidity, mortality and treatment non-adherence. Different approaches were used to counteract these side effects but showed only limited or short-term effects. This study aims to analyse the effects of a long-term multimodal treatment program for first episode psychosis on antipsychotic-induced metabolic changes.
Methods: We enrolled 71 patients with first episode psychosis treated at the Zagreb University Hospital Centre from 2016 until 2018. Participants were assigned to one of the two groups: day hospital program vs. treatment as usual (TAU). Outcomes were: body weight, blood glucose, lipids and cholesterol, psychopathology and global level of functioning during the 18-months follow-up.
Results: Although the TAU group gained more weight and had higher increase of blood glucose, while the day hospital group had a higher increase in total cholesterol at 18th month follow-up, after the adjustment for age, gender and baseline measures, the type of treatment was not significantly associated with any of the primary outcome measures. Patients' psychopathology measures significantly decreased and their functional level significantly increased at month 18th in both groups.
Conclusion: While both types of treatment were effective in reducing psychopathology and restoring the patients' level of functioning, both were relatively ineffective in counteracting antipsychotic-induced metabolic abnormalities and antipsychotic-induced weight gain.