Abnormal laboratory values during the acute and recovery phases in schizophrenic patients: a retrospective study

During treatment of acute-phase schizophrenia, attention needs to be given to physical as well as psychological symptoms. It is often difficult, however, to obtain information on physical symptoms from patients with psychomotor excitation, and only laboratory examinations can provide objective data. The results of laboratory parameters measured in 68 patients with schizophrenia during psychomotor excitation and approximately 1 month later during the medicated recovery phase have been analyzed retrospectively. Abnormal laboratory values during psychomotor excitation were frequent. The most frequent (>/=35% of patients) were increased white blood cell count, low serum potassium levels, high levels of fasting blood sugar, lactate dehydrogenase and uric acid. There were fewer abnormal values during the medicated recovery phase. The most frequent (>/=25% of patients) were high serum levels of triglycerides, amylase, creatinine kinase, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Abnormal triglyceride levels were found significantly more frequently in patients receiving olanzapine than those receiving risperidone. Abnormal values during the acute phase may be the result of excitation such as increased sympathetic tone and dehydration. Abnormal values during the recovery phase appeared to be related to the adverse metabolic effects of antipsychotic drugs. The frequency of these abnormal values was particularly high in patients receiving olanzapine alone or in combination with other medications.