Metabolic Comorbidity in Severe Mental Illness: Treating the Brain While Minding the Body-View Presentation Slides

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The document is from a live webinar by the American Psychiatric Association, discussing the intersection of severe mental illness (SMI) and metabolic comorbidities, particularly focusing on cardiometabolic health risks. It highlights the increased cardiovascular disease risk and shorter life expectancy linked to conditions like schizophrenia. The session underscores the dual challenge faced by patients who, while receiving psychotropic treatments, also have to manage significant metabolic side effects such as weight gain and diabetes.<br /><br />Dr. Margaret Hahn from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, leads the presentation, pinpointing the nuanced challenges of managing SMI patients who frequently experience metabolic syndrome, a condition exacerbated by both genetic predispositions and antipsychotic medications. There is a significant emphasis on the disparities in care among these patients, particularly concerning metabolic monitoring and intervention strategies for obesity and related conditions.<br /><br />The document also reviews pharmacological interventions, such as the use of Metformin to mitigate antipsychotic-induced weight gain and insulin resistance, noting the necessity for integrated treatment models that consider both metabolic health and mental illness. The effectiveness of behavioral interventions, like cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle modifications, is discussed, highlighting the potential of multimodal approaches in addressing weight management.<br /><br />Furthermore, the webinar outlines strategies like dose adjustments and switching antipsychotics to those with a lower metabolic impact, although noting these need careful consideration due to the lack of strong evidence for efficacy and potential risks such as the emergence of psychotic symptoms.<br /><br />The discussion emphasizes the need for regular metabolic monitoring of patients on antipsychotic medications, and advises against the off-label usage of such drugs due to their substantial metabolic side effects. The document concludes with acknowledgments and provides resources for further education and professional credits.

Keywords

severe mental illness

metabolic comorbidities

cardiometabolic health

schizophrenia

psychotropic treatments

metabolic syndrome

antipsychotic medications

Metformin

behavioral interventions

metabolic monitoring