The effect of antipsychotics on blood glucose level/lipid level of patients with mental illness

Abstract

Objective The study is to explore the relationship between antipsychotics and blood glucose level or lipid level of patients with mental illness in psychiatric outpatient clinic of Queen Mary Hospital. Participants and Methods Case reviews through Clinical Management System were carried out. Total 108 psychotic cases involved in the study. 24 were excluded as the patients did not have any treatment of antipsychotics. 84 patients were qualified for review. 40 females and 68 males involved. Their ages are between 13 and 68. Patients’ demographics information, blood glucose level or lipid level were retrieved. Some important findings are also noted. Data collection carried in May 2014. Results There are no significant changes in fasting blood glucose or lipid level for either typical or atypical antipsychotics. We found that the frequency of checking blood glucose or lipid level was too low and not regular. Risperidone and Olanzapine are the most commonly used in this psychiatric outpatient clinic. Moreover, 9 cases change from psychosis to Paranoid type schizophrenia. The most frequent diagnosis in the clinic is Paranoid type schizophrenia. 36 cases, one third of the samples, are diagnosed as Paranoid type schizophrenia. Conclusions Although we cannot conclude the effect of antipsychotics on blood glucose level or lipid level of patients with mental illness, there is an increasing concern about antipsychotics leading to metabolic problems through the case reviews. We suggest that routine physical health screening, guidelines setting up, predictors should be carried out in the clinic.