Choosing Psychiatric Medications for Patients with Severe Obesity and Pharmacological Treatments for Severe Obesity in Patients with Psychiatric Disorders: A Case Study

Abstract

Patients with psychiatric disorders are at a high risk for obesity and metabolic illnesses, and the treatments for their mental illness may significantly increase such a risk, leading to even greater mortality, morbidity, and disability. Therefore, new paradigms for the management of psychiatric disorders are required. It is paramount that health care professionals be aware that, when exposed to psychotropic medications, many patients gain significant weight and/or develop dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, thyroid dysfunction, hyperprolactinemia, or other endocrine/metabolic conditions. Whenever possible, the development of weight gain and other metabolic illnesses should be prevented or minimized by choosing agents with a lower metabolic risk, both for acute and long-term treatments, as reported above in our clinical case. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)