Stephen Olson, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry, is emphasizing the physical health of patients with severe mental illness in light of recent findings that the lifespan of people with schizophrenia is 20-25 years shorter than that of the general population, largely due to increased rates of cardiovascular disease. This population is at high risk for heart attack and stroke due to high rates of obesity, smoking, diabetes, and a sedentary lifestyle.
These problems have been aggravated by the fact that many of the newer, so-called atypical antipsychotic drugs which are the mainstay of treatment of the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia cause weight gain, hyperlipidemia, and glucose dysregulation in some patients.
This places psychiatrists and other physicians in a dilemma with patients who are responding well to a medication which may be increasing their risk of cardiovascular disease. Is it often preferable to continue the current medication, thereby maintaining their psychiatric stability. However, this may endanger their physical health. Switching to a new medication risks worsening symptoms, but offers the possibility of improved physical health.
As yet, there is no evidence to show which course of action might be better for patients. The NIMH Schizophrenia Trials Network, a consortium of 30 research sites across the U.S. including a site at the University of Minnesota, is currently conducting the Comparison of Antipsychotics for Metabolic Problems (CAMP) study with the goal of providing evidence to guide practice with regard to this important issue.
Olson’s lab is currently recruiting patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who are stable on their medications but are having metabolic problems (such as high cholesterol or obesity) that put them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. He hopes to improve nutrition and activity levels, and provide alternative medications to counter the obesity problem.
For more information, contact Dr. Olson’s lab at 612-627-4840 or schizophrenia@umn.edu.
|
