Psychopharmacology Tips

The 2002 Mount Sinai Conference recommended monitoring body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference at every visit for the first six months after a medication initiation or change; a weight gain of one unit BMI identifies the need for intervention (Marder et al., 2004). A 2004 consensus panel sponsored by the American Diabetes Association and the American Psychiatric Association recommended monitoring BMI at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after initiating or changing second-generation antipsychotic therapy, and quarterly thereafter. If weight gain occurs in excess of 5%, consideration should be given to changing the second generation antipsychotic by cross-titration. The panel also recommends baseline and annual measurement of waist circumference.

Ref: -

American Diabetes Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, North American Association for the study of obesity. Consensus development conference on antipsychotic drugs and obesity and diabetes. (2004) Diabetes Care, 27, 2, 596-601.

Marder, S.R., Essock, S.M., Miller, A.L. et al. (2004) Physical health monitoring of patients with schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161, 8, 1334-1349.