Abstract:

Objective: To compare the metabolic outcomes in psychiatric patients treated with Olanzapine and Risperidone. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health, Rawalpindi, from Aug 2016 to Jan 2017. Methodology: In this study 114 newly diagnosed psychiatric patients taking atypical anti-psychotics were selected and placed randomly into two groups i.e. group A (Olanzapine) andgroup B (Risperidone), 57 patients each. Patients of either gender, 20 to 60 years’ age, clinically diagnosed new cases having psychiatric illness using DSMV were selected consecutively. Baseline and six months’ end study data were collected and compared. Results: Total 14 out of 109 (5 patients lost follow up) patients developed metabolic syndrome. Among these 10 (18.18%) were in group A while 4 (7.41%) were in group B. Patients receiving Olanzapine were 2.58 times more prone to develop metabolic syndrome compared to the Risperidone receiving [RR= 2.58 {C.I. 0.85009, 7.62703}]. Weight gain (p-value = 0.0048), increased Waist circumference (p-value = 0.00867) and elevated Blood Pressure (pvalue = 0.0563) were seen more significantly with use of Olanzapine. Conclusion: Olanzapine although associated with good efficacy but indeed with more serious and long-term side effects like impaired blood glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia and increase weight. Psychiatrist must screen and continuously monitor such patients.

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