The impact of psychotropic weight gain on people with psychosis – patient perspectives and attitudes

Abstract

Objectives: To explore weight gain and its impact on quality of life, body image and medical adherence in patients suffering from psychosis. To investigate what methods they tried to lose weight and which medications they thought impacted on their weight.

Method: This was a cross-sectional study of patients belonging to the Mental Health Rehabilitation service of Inner-West Area Mental Health Service/Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria. Of 66 patients of the service, 63 were offered participation; 42 completed all components of survey. The chief outcome measures were the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life (IWQOL-lite) Scale, a set of nine figural stimuli to measure body image and a questionnaire addressing medication adherence and methods used to lose weight. In addition, anthropometric measures were taken.

Results: A substantial proportion of patients were overweight or obese. Subjects underestimated their weight and wished to be thinner. Subjects indicated that their quality of life had been affected by their weight gain across a number of domains. A majority believed their medication had contributed to their weight gain, and as a result had considered ceasing it.

Conclusions: Patients' weight gain and the management thereof needs to be an integral part of overall treatment planning and monitoring for people on antipsychotic medications.

Declaration of interest: None.

Keywords:

• Weight gain
• psychotropics
• quality of life
• psychosis
• medical adherence