Metabolic Syndrome and Bipolar Disorder: What Should Psychiatrists Know
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, 03/04/2011
Review Article
de Almeida KM et al. – Strategies to prevent and treat the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its cardiovascular consequences in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) include accurate screening and monitoring of the patient and appropriate psychoeducation on weight control, healthy nutrition, and increased physical activity. When deciding on pharmacological therapy for the treatment of the components of the MetS, drug interactions and the effects of the medications on mood must be taken into account.
Methods- Authors conducted a nonsystematic literature review by means of a MEDLINE search.
- The exact causal relationship between MetS and BD is still uncertain.
- The side effects of psychotropic medications may be a major contributor to the increased rates of MetS in patients with BD.
- Other factors such as unhealthy lifestyles, common neuroendocrine and immuno–inflammatory abnormalities, and genetic vulnerability may also play a role in explaining the high rates of MetS in BD.
