Metabolic Syndrome and Atypical Antipsychotics: A Selective Literature Review

Aim: To review the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and atypical antipsychotics. Method: Selective literature review. Results: Atypical antipsychotics are effective in the treatment of psychotic disorders and other mental illness. Psychiatric patients have higher rate of physical disorders due to various causes, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus were described prior to the advent of antipsychotic medication. Atypical (and conventional) antipsychotic drugs are associated with the metabolic syndrome and its components – diabetes mellitus, weight gain, dyslipidaemia and hypertension. Clinical guidelines and consensus statements suggest routine baseline monitoring of patients commenced on these medications, modifying lifestyle factors and treating individual components of the metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: Increased awareness of risks associated with the metabolic syndrome, and optimal monitoring and management are required to minimize the cardiovascular and other risk factors associated with the syndrome. Further studies specifically focusing on these abnormalities are required (German J Psychiatry 2008; 11: 111-122).