The Relationship between Body Weight Change and Body Constitutions of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients with Schizophrenia.

Jui-Fen Cheng,Te-Le Liu,Xuan-Yi Huang,Han-Yi Ching,Ruey-Yun Wang

doi:10.1155/2016/9585968

Abstract

Objective. To explore the relationship between body constitution (BC) types and weight change in patients with schizophrenia and who underwent second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) treatment. Method. Body weight and waist circumference of eighty-five participants were measured for 6 consecutive weeks. Constitutions of Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, and Stasis were assessed using the Body Constitution Questionnaire (BCQ). Results. Participants with body constitutions Yin-Xu (50.6%), Yang-Xu (49.4%), or Stasis (38.8%) exhibited worse physical condition and unhealthy daily habits, particularly in Stasis constitution. Moreover, Stasis constitution was significantly associated with several factors, including BMI, body weight, waist circumference, perception of stress, perception of health, staying up late, and less physical exercise. However, perception of stress showed significant difference in Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, and Stasis. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis revealed that significant time effects in body weight increase in the imbalanced BC types and gentleness BC type. SGAs induced weight gain in imbalanced BC type as well as gentleness BC type, especially treated with olanzapine. Conclusions. This is the first study to explore the longitudinal relationship between BC and weight gain in schizophrenia patients undergoing SGAs treatment. Health care providers should focus on weight gain problems in schizophrenia patients who underwent SGAs treatment.

Highlights

Schizophrenia is a chronic, disabling illness that frequently relapses, when treatment is discontinued
The Stasis constitution was significantly associated with worse physical condition including BMI (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.02–1.22), body weight (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00–1.06), waist circumference (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01– 1.07), perception of stress (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01–1.33), and perception of health (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96–1.00) and poor daily habits including staying up late (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.02– 6.39) and less physical exercise (OR, 6.61; 95% CI, 1.28–34.14; OR, 4.49; 95% CI, 1.17–17.23)
Multiple backward logistic regression analysis after adjustment for history of illness, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, selfperception of health, self-perception of stress, triglycerides, staying up late, and exercise showed that the factors correlated with Stasis constitution were duration of schizophrenia (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01–1.12), body mass index (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.05–1.29), and self-perception of stress (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02–1.41)

Summary

Introduction

Schizophrenia is a chronic, disabling illness that frequently relapses, when treatment is discontinued. Improving medication adherence has been emphasized as a key component of the management of schizophrenia [1]. Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are widely used in the treatment of schizophrenia because of their clinical efficacy and low incidence of neurological side effects. Previous studies have reported several advantages of SGAs over first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs), including lower relapse rates, lower overall treatment failure, lower hospitalization rates, and greater improvement of the side effects of acute extrapyramidal and tardive dyskinesia [2,3,4]. Being overweight or obese may adversely affect a patient’s physical health and self-esteem, often resulting in discontinuation of medication [6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion