THE METABOLIC SYNDROME IN OUTPATIENTS WITH PSYCHOSIS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN LONG ACTING INJECTABLE OLANZAPINE AND RISPERIDONE.

CONTEXT: Literature shows that patients taking antipsychotic medication risk developing metabolic complications.
OBJECTIVE: The study aims to compare the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components in outpatients treated with long acting injectable (LAI) olanzapine and risperidone.
DESIGN: A double-center study was performed on outpatients with psychosis, which were divided into two samples: one treated with olanzapine and another with risperidone. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The following data were analyzed: age, gender, severity of psychiatric symptoms, blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, tobacco use, medication, and time intervals related to psychosis duration (pre-LAI and LAI treatment).
RESULTS: The study included 77 patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. MS was present in 45 (58.4%) patients. Subjects with MS and abdominal obesity had higher durations of psychosis and of LAI treatment. Patients with hypertension had a higher pre-LAI treatment interval. Risperidone was associated with higher rates of hypertension and higher values of abdominal circumference than olanzapine.
CONCLUSIONS: The presence of MS is related to the duration of the psychosis and the time spent on LAI treatment with no differences between olanzapine and risperidone. Hypertension may be a consequence of age, disorder induced stress, or of treatment with risperidone. ©by Acta Endocrinologica Foundation.