Atypical Antipsychotics: A Weighty Subject

Weight gain is a significant problem that occurs with certain atypical antipsychotics. Data about weight gain are often obtained from patients with chronic schizophrenia, not from drug-naive subjects. In this 1-year study, investigators compared weight gain in 98 outpatients with first-episode psychosis (71 with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, 27 with mood disorders; mean age, 27; 70% male) and 30 healthy controls (mean age, 21; 62% male).

All but seven patients accepted treatment with antipsychotics (mean duration, 303 days). Patients were seen between 1990 and 2006; the antipsychotics that were most commonly received reflect practice during this period: risperidone in 43 patients, haloperidol in 24, perphenazine in 13, and olanz…