Current and novel approaches to mitigate cardiometabolic adverse effects of second-generation antipsychotics

Abstract

Second-generation antipsychotic-related weight gain and metabolic disturbances are a major public health issue given the widespread prescribing of these medications. The lack of clearly known mechanisms of cardiometabolic adverse effects and the relevance of cardiometabolic health for survival make this an important area for research. While nonpharmacologic and some pharmacologic treatments have shown benefits vs control conditions or placebo, the effects are modest and long-term benefits are less clear. Therefore, new approaches to mitigate second-generation antipsychotic-associated cardiometabolic burden are sorely needed.