A Review of Metabolic Process Dynamics and Therapeutic Regimens for Schizophrenia, Type II Diabetes and Obesity in Patients
Authors: Stewart-Vowal Patricia Ann , Tulp Orien Lee , Einstein George P. 
Published: April 2020

Objective

This meta‐analysis study is about patients with schizophrenia being more prone to develop obesity and type II diabetes than non‐schizophrenic patients and the study attempts to explain the contributory factors or causation from viewpoint of the dynamics of the metabolic processes that contribute to the etiology of the above disorders. The occurrence of obesity, as well as other metabolic issues like type II diabetes contributes immensely to lowering the quality of life and life expectancy often to a maximum of twenty‐five years from initial diagnosis.

Methods

Meta analysis and review of the literature

Results

Antipsychotic medications may intensify the vulnerability of a patient to develop type II diabetes, typically because it affects the sensitivity for insulin, which often results in indirect weight gain. Lifestyle change interventions for the prevention of diabetes should, therefore, be a fundamental element of schizophrenia treatment protocols. Also, while administering treatments for Type II diabetes for patients with schizophrenia, the patient’s cooperation and communication between psychiatric and other medical and health care practitioners is desired in an attempt to optimize the clinical effectiveness of the therapeutic regimen. While the use of antipsychotic medications has often been considered as a leading cause or contributor to increased weigh gain, several other factors such as an individual's biological susceptibility, irregular metabolic processes, genetic predisposition, and unhealthy lifestyles have been proposed to increase the risk of developing obesity and diabetes.

Conclusion

Much of the research studies explored secondary and tertiary prevention of disease in mental health and its disease pathologies. Research is needed that is targeted at primary prevention for schizophrenia and its many disease pathologies and comorbidities. The environmental concern would have to be at the forefront of preventing the required element of triggering genetic or epigenetic activation that may result in the development of schizophrenia or other mental disorders. We would have to explore foods that prevent food‐influenced inflammation. The three disorders studied in this research study of schizophrenia, obesity, and Type II diabetes share the common pathophysiologic element of inflammation. One other commonality is genetic predisposition and how it may impact health and other predisposing insults before birth. It is an inconclusive determination to focus on antipsychotics, sedentary lifestyles, and diet management contributors alone without exploring genetics on the physiologic environment and the inception of processed foods as other potential causal or contributory factors for patients with schizophrenia being more prone to develop Type II diabetes and/or obesity than patients without schizophrenia or other mental disorders.

Support or Funding Information

Support provided by institutional Resources of the University of Health and Humanities Virgin Islands, the University of Science Arts & Technology, Montserrat, and the Einstein Institute USA.