Psychosis and metabolic risk: PsyMetRiC 2.0 reaches the clinic

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People with psychosis die up to 15 years early, often from preventable physical illness. PsyMetRiC 2.0 is one of the first prediction tools in psychiatry registered for routine clinical use. Could it shift cardiometabolic care from reactive to proactive?

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Can we predict and prevent weight gain in early psychosis?

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New research suggests that weight gained in the first 12 weeks of antipsychotic treatment is the biggest driver of long-term obesity in psychosis.

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Metformin reduces weight gain in young people taking antipsychotics

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Large pragmatic trial found metformin plus lifestyle intervention reduced weight gain in young people with bipolar disorder taking antipsychotics. Effect significant but modest at 6 and 24 months.

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Rapid weight gain after SMI diagnosis, but why so few referrals for support?

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A 15-year analysis of UK primary care records showed steep and sustained weight gain after an SMI diagnosis, especially among younger adults and people prescribed antipsychotic medication. Yet very few received referrals for weight-management support, raising important questions about practice and policy.

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Should you start metformin whenever you start antipsychotics?

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Guidelines say metformin can help prevent weight gain from antipsychotics like olanzapine, but this large UK study shows it’s rarely prescribed. What’s stopping us?

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Antipsychotics and metabolic function in people with schizophrenia

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Peter Haddad and Sami Ouanes review a network meta-analysis of the impact of antipsychotic drugs on metabolic function in people with schizophrenia.

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Lifestyle training for schizophrenia: STEPWISE fails to make a difference

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Ben Janaway writes his debut elf blog on the STEPWISE RCT which is out today in the British Journal of Psychiatry: Structured lifestyle education for people with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and first-episode psychosis.

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What impact are psychotropic drugs having on our physical health?

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John Baker summarises the findings of a recent review of people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. The study looks at the adverse effects on physical health of psychotropic drugs (antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilisers).

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Psychosis and schizophrenia in adults: updated NICE guidance for 2014

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While the organisation’s name may change frequently, currently National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), its role remains constant – to provide clear published guidance on the role of treatment options within the NHS. The publication of new NICE guidance represents a significant event as clinical recommendations shape the nature of provided care nationally [read the full story…]

Non-pharmacological interventions can help prevent and reduce weight gain in people who take antipsychotics

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The reduced life expectancy (15-20 years less) often faced by many people with schizophrenia is frequently a result of cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle choices (smoking, lack of exercise and poor diet) can increase the risk of these diseases, but people who take antipsychotic drugs often have the additional problem of weight gain that is caused by [read the full story…]