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Original Research

Importance of Early Weight Changes to Predict Long-Term Weight Gain During Psychotropic Drug Treatment

Frederik Vandenberghe, PharmD, MSca; Mehdi Gholam-Rezaee, PhDb; Núria Saigí­-Morgui, PharmD, MPHa; Aurélie Delacrétaz, MSca; Eva Choong, PhDa; Alessandra Solida-Tozzi, MDc; Stéphane Kolly, MDc; Jacques Thonney, MDc; Sylfa Fassassi Gallo, MDc; Ahmed Hedjal, MDc; Anne-Emmanuelle Ambresin, MDe; Armin von Gunten, MPhil, MDd; Philippe Conus, MDc; and Chin B. Eap, PhDa,f,*

Published: November 25, 2015

Article Abstract

Background: Psychotropic drugs can induce substantial weight gain, particularly during the first 6 months of treatment. The authors aimed to determine the potential predictive power of an early weight gain after the introduction of weight gain-inducing psychotropic drugs on long-term weight gain.

Method: Data were obtained from a 1-year longitudinal study ongoing since 2007 including 351 psychiatric (ICD-10) patients, with metabolic parameters monitored (baseline and/or 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 months) and with compliance ascertained. International Diabetes Federation and World Health Organization definitions were used to define metabolic syndrome and obesity, respectively.

Results: Prevalences of metabolic syndrome and obesity were 22% and 17%, respectively, at baseline and 32% and 24% after 1 year. Receiver operating characteristic analyses indicated that an early weight gain > 5% after a period of 1 month is the best predictor for important long-term weight gain (≥ 15% after 3 months: sensitivity, 67%; specificity, 88%; ≥ 20% after 12 months: sensitivity, 47%; specificity, 89%). This analysis identified most patients (97% for 3 months, 93% for 12 months) who had weight gain ≤ 5% after 1 month as continuing to have a moderate weight gain after 3 and 12 months. Its predictive power was confirmed by fitting a longitudinal multivariate model (difference between groups in 1 year of 6.4% weight increase as compared to baseline, P = .0001).

Conclusion: Following prescription of weight gain-inducing psychotropic drugs, a 5% threshold for weight gain after 1 month should raise clinician concerns about weight-controlling strategies.

Volume: 76

Quick Links: Side Effects-Medication , Weight

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