Abstract
Although second-generation antipsychotic drugs (SGAs) are the cornerstone of treatment for many psychotic and non-psychotic disorders, these medications are associated with substantial weight gain, including the development of obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors. Antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG) is a critical factor underlying the reduction in life expectancy, estimated to reach 20–30 years, in those with chronic and severe mental illnesses. However, the extent of AIWG is highly variable across patients, and prognostic biomarkers are generally lacking. Further, the biological mechanisms underlying AIWG are poorly understood, hampering efforts to develop novel medications without these adverse effects.While prior pharmacogenetic studies have identified some promising candidate genes, most studies have been underpowered for genomewide association study (GWAS) approaches. Moreover, few studies have examined patients during their first episode of treatment with SGAs, when AIWG is more pronounced and is not confounded by effects of prior treatment. Consequently, we developed an international collaboration in order to assemble a relatively large cohort of patients (n>1000) undergoing first-ever SGA treatment in 7 different controlled or naturalistic trials across 3 continents. We are currently performing GWAS using dense arrays, and imputation to 1000 Genomes standards in order to comprehensively survey common variation across the genome. Results of meta-analysis across cohorts will be presented in detail at the meeting.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call