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Behavioral therapy for weight loss in patients with schizophrenia
1University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Services and Research for Recovery in Serious Mental Illness, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; and the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, Pa, USA. gangulir@upmc.edu
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|August 19, 2007
Summary
Behavioral therapy, including diet and exercise, shows promise in preventing weight gain associated with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) in schizophrenia patients. Further research is needed for long-term weight management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Metabolic Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Individuals with schizophrenia have a higher prevalence of obesity compared to the general population.
- Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are frequently associated with significant weight gain, negatively impacting patient adherence and increasing risks for serious medical conditions.
- Current understanding of interventions for antipsychotic-related weight gain, particularly behavioral therapies, remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy of dietary, pharmacologic, and behavioral therapies in mitigating weight gain induced by antipsychotic medications.
- To highlight the understudied role of behavioral therapy in managing SGA-induced weight gain in schizophrenia patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on interventions for antipsychotic-related weight gain.
- Analysis of controlled trials investigating behavioral therapy's effectiveness.
- Examination of a pilot study on stepped behavioral interventions for SGA-treated patients.
Main Results:
- Behavioral therapy has demonstrated potential for short-term weight loss and long-term weight control in some studies.
- A pilot study indicated that stepped behavioral interventions (self-monitoring, diet, exercise) could prevent weight gain in patients initiating SGAs.
- Controlled trials specifically on behavioral therapy for SGA-induced weight gain are relatively scarce.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral therapy presents a promising, yet under-researched, avenue for managing antipsychotic-related weight gain in schizophrenia.
- Further controlled studies are warranted to establish the long-term efficacy of behavioral interventions for weight control in patients with severe mental illness receiving SGAs.
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