Weight changes following treatment with aripiprazole, risperidone and olanzapine: A 12-month study of first-episode schizophrenia patients in China.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess weight changes following antipsychotic treatment in first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients and make a comparison of aripiprazole, risperidone and olanzapine. Predictors for long-term clinically relevantweight gain (CRW, ≥7%) were examined. We carried out a second analysis of data from the Chinese First-Episode Schizophrenia Trial. Repeated measures general linear model (GLM) statistics were used to compare body weight at each follow-up point (month of 1, 2, 3, 6, 9and 12). Logistic regression models were constructed to evaluate possible predictors for CRW. Body weight increased with an average rate of 0.93 % per month, with the fastest growth rate occurring in first 3 months. CRW was observed in 79 % of patients. Participants from olanzapine group showed significantly higher weight gain than risperidone group and aripiprozole group. Repeated measures GLM revealed a significant main effect of time (p<0.001) and asignificant time*group interaction was revealed (p<0.001), while the between-subjectgroup effect was not statistically significant (p=0.272). Multivariate logistic regressionmodel showed that with smaller baseline BMI (OR = 1.33, p<0.001), with a family historyof mental disorder (OR = 5.08, p=0.004), receiving olanzapine (OR = 2.35, p=0.001), and CRW at first-month (OR = 4.29, p=0.032) were independent predictors for first-year CRW. Antipsychotics are associated with a clinically significant weight gain in FES patients, which occurs mostly in first 3 months. Aripiprazole might not be an ideal choice in terms of long-term metabolic side-effects. Early and close metabolicmonitoring should accompany antipsychotic prescription.