Lipid Effects of Psychiatric Medications

People with schizophrenia have higher rates of medical illness and mortality than the general population. Cardiovascular disease is a major contributor to premature death in patients with schizophrenia. There has been an increase literature discussing the high prevalence of dyslipidemia, which is one of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, induced by second generation antipsychotic agents. Depression is associated with increased risks of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease. However, those may not be secondary to the use of antidepressant agents. In order to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotic agents, obtaining fasting lipid measurements at regular intervals is needed. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the effects of antidepressive agents on lipid profiles.