Letter: Direct metabolic effects of risperidone and olanzapine in Japanese schizophrenic patients

Takahiko Nagamine

Division of Psychiatric Internal Medicine, Seiwakai-Kitsunan Hospital, Suzenji, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi-ken, Japan

Abstract: In clinical practice, the high incidence of metabolic abnormalities, such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia, seen in schizophrenic patients are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, including lifestyle, overactivity of the hypothalamicpituitary- adrenal axis, and antipsychotic medication. Antipsychotic-induced metabolic abnormalities have been thought to be due to insulin resistance caused by obesity, which is a major side-effect of antipsychotics. However, there is increasing evidence that second-generation antipsychotics can also have direct metabolic effects.