While a number of pharmacological interventions can produce modest weight loss, each may be associated with negative side effects, which should be considered before beginning treatment. Given the pressing need to improve cardiometabolic health in most clozapine-treated patients, substantially more research is needed to develop sound clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of clozapine-associated weight gain.

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Metabolic abnormalities are serious health problems in individuals with schizophrenia. Paradoxically, studies have noted an association where individuals who gained body weight or who have increased their serum lipids demonstrated a better antipsychotic response. As serum lipids serve as more specific physiological markers than body weight, the objective of this study was to review studies that examined the association between changes in serum lipids and changes in symptoms during antipsychotic treatment in individuals with schizophrenia. A Medline® literature search was performed. Fourteen studies were included and analyzed. Evidence suggests that increases in serum lipids may be associated with decreases in symptoms during antipsychotic treatment. This inverse association may be independent of confounding variables, such as weight gain, and may be most evident during treatment with clozapine. Also, according to recent randomized controlled trials, lipid-lowering agents do not appear to worsen symptoms although this needs to be further investigated in clozapine-treated patients. Future studies should investigate the association in question in a larger population and identify underlying mechanisms.

Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are associated with significant comorbid metabolic abnormalities. Adjunct medications may be prescribed to treat these metabolic side effects, but the evidence supporting this practice (especially for the management of antipsychotic-associated dyslipidemia and hypertension) is limited. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the effects of adjunct medications on triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, and blood pressure levels in participants taking SGAs for psychosis. Studies were systematically searched and evaluated. Studies were included for review if participants were taking SGAs and if lipid and/or blood pressure levels were included as outcome measures. Statins, conventional lipid-lowering agents, fluvoxamine, ramelteon, topiramate, valsartan, telmisartan, omega-3 fatty acids, metformin (including both immediate-release and extended-release formulations), and a combination of metformin-sibutramine seemed to have beneficial effects on lipid levels. Valsartan, telmisartan, and topiramate appeared to be effective for controlling increases in blood pressure. The literature on adjunct medications for the treatment of antipsychotic-associated dyslipidemia and hypertension is not exhaustive, and long-term randomized-controlled trials would offer valuable results.

Clozapine had better efficacy in subjects with treatment-resistant schizophrenia compared to risperidone, although risperidone appears to yield better response rates than those previously reported for typical antipsychotics. Double-blind, controlled trials of risperidone are needed to establish its efficacy in treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Aim Long‐acting injectable antipsychotic drugs (LAIs) are often used as an alternative to oral antipsychotics (OAPs) in individuals with psychosis who demonstrate poor medication adherence. Previous meta‐analyses have found mixed results on the efficacy of LAIs, compared to OAPs, in patients with psychotic disorders. The objective of this meta‐analysis was to compare the effectiveness of using LAIs versus OAPs in the early stages of psychosis. Methods Major electronic databases were used to search for any studies examining the comparative effectiveness (i.e., relapse, adherence, hospitalization, and all‐cause discontinuation) of any LAIs versus OAPs in early stages of psychosis. Studies published up to 6 June, 2019 were included and no language restriction was applied. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of schizophrenia or related disorder, where patients were in their first episode or had a duration of illness ≤5 years. Data were analysed using a random‐effects model. Results Fifteen studies (n = 10 584) were included, of which were 7 RCTs, 7 observational studies, and 1 post‐hoc analysis. We found that LAIs provided advantages over OAPs in terms of relapse rates. No significant differences were found between LAI and OAP groups in terms of all‐cause discontinuation, hospitalization, and adherence rates. However, considering only RCTs revealed advantages of LAIs over OAPs in terms of hospitalization rates. Conclusions LAIs may provide benefits over OAPs with respect to reducing relapse and hospitalization rates in early psychosis patients. There is a need for larger and better‐designed studies comparing OAPs and LAIs specifically in early psychosis patients.

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Psychotic disorders most commonly appear during the late teenage years and early adulthood. A focused and rapid clinical response by an integrated health team can help to improve the quality of life of the patient, leading to a better long-term prognosis. The Vancouver Coastal Health early psychosis intervention program covers a catchment area of approximately 800,000 people in the cities of Vancouver and Richmond, Canada. The program provides a multidisciplinary approach to supporting patients under the age of 30 who have recently experienced first-break psychosis. The program addresses the needs of the treatment environment, medication, and psychological therapies. A critical part of this support includes a program to specifically improve patients’ physical health. Physical health needs are addressed through a two-pronged, parallel approach. Patients receive routine metabolic health assessments during their first year in the program, where standard metabolic parameters are recorded. Based on the results of clinical interviews and laboratory tests, specific actionable interventions are recommended. The second key strategy is a program that promotes healthy lifestyle goal development. Patients work closely with occupational therapists to develop goals to improve cardiometabolic health. These programs are supported by an active research environment, where patients are able to engage in studies with a focus on improving their physical health. These studies include a longitudinal evaluation of the effects of integrated health coaching on maintaining cardiometabolic health in patients recently admitted to the program, as well as a clinical study that evaluates the effects of low versus higher metabolic risk antipsychotic drugs on central adiposity. An additional pharmacogenomic study is helping to identify genetic variants that may predict cardiometabolic changes following treatment with antipsychotic drugs.