Posted by: Maria/MD Health Forum.com Team
Schizophrenia has long been associated with diabetes. Glucose metabolism abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia were first described in 1879- decades prior to the arrival of antipsychotic drugs. When neuroleptics were introduced, it caused a rapid increase in type 2 diabetes in schizophrenic patients. Many case reports and epidemiological studies have shown an increased rate of disturbed glucose metabolism in patients treated with neuroleptics. Second-generation antipsychotic drugs were marketed in 1990’s, the incidence of extrapyramidal side-effects was lesser than older drugs, but its diabetogenic effect seemed stronger than classical antipsychotic agents. There are studies suggesting that patients with schizophrenia may be at increased risk for Type II diabetes due to the side effects of antipsychotic medications. In 2007, during the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting, a group of presenters suggested that doctors who prescribe antipsychotic medications should monitor their patients for potential metabolic side effects. The recommended tests include: glucose level, blood pressure, girth and weight, cholesterol (total, HDL and LDL), and triglycerides.

Researchers from the Medical College of Georgia have discovered that schizophrenia increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Dr. Brian Kirkpatrick, vice chair of the MCG Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior presented the findings of their study at the International Congress on Schizophrenia Research in San Diego which was held on March 28-April 1. Their conclusion was based on a research conducted on 50 people who were recently-diagnosed with schizophrenia or related psychotic disorders.

To find out whether schizophrenia itself can cause diabetes, Dr. Kirkpatrick and his colleagues University of Barcelona in Spain and the University of Maryland conducted a study on 50 newly diagnosed patients who had not yet been on antipsychotic drug therapy. The control group was of similar size. The investigators carried out a two-hour oral glucose test to the recently- diagnosed patients. Observing them prior to drug therapy was very important since most medications for schizophrenia are known to cause rapid weight gain which is a known risk factor for diabetes. After the test, investigators noted that 16 percent of the patients exhibited either type 2 diabetes or abnormal rates of glucose metabolism. The control group, on the other hand, did not manifest signs of diabetes. To the researchers, their findings clearly suggest that schizophrenia increases the risk of diabetes.

According to Dr Kirkpatrick, the result of their findings indicate presence of some shared environmental or genetic influences between the development of schizophrenia and diabetes. He also stated that establishing the link between the 2 diseases may promote further understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is considered as a devastating mental illness because its debilitating effects deprive millions of people worldwide of the ability to live normal lives. Based on recent findings, it seems that people afflicted with schizophrenia would have to face additional burden, aside from the usual psychotic symptoms, there are also potential metabolic problems in the horizon. How can this disease be so cruel? Sadly, there are still many unanswered questions about schizophrenia, researchers are yet to identify its exact cause. We can only hope that they would soon completely understand schizophrenia because it would benefit about 51 million people who are victims of this unfortunate disease.

References:

http://www.schizophrenia.com/szfacts.htm accessed 4.4.09
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/29/4/786 accessed 2.4.09
https://my.mcg.edu/portal/page/portal/News/archive/2009/Researchers%20discover%20link%20between%20schizophrenia%20and%20diabetes accessed 31.3.09
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/184/47/s64
Photo credit: Bill McBain

Tags: Diabetes, Mental Health, psychiatry, schizophrenia