Patologia del lobo frontale, depressione ed ansia : segni prodromici ed implicazioni terapeutiche

Objectives: The antipsychotic drugs' effect on the appetite and body weight is a prominent negative factor during treatment of psychotic patients. Weight gain, in fact, increases mortality and morbidity risks and reduces self-esteem, worsens social adaptation and is one of the most common reasons of noncompliance. Methods: To investigate relations between body weight and adherence and to evaluate the role of a correct preventive information about side-effects of neuroleptic drugs, we examined 76 outpatients in monotherapy with antipsychotic drugs stabilized since one month. We excluded patients with medical problems or in treatment with body weight-interfering drugs. We used an ad hoc questionnaire elaborated on the possible interaction between drugs, body weight changes and food habits. A comparison between schizophrenic patients in our sample and the others outpatients was performed. Results and Conclusions: Results suggest that a correct information facilitates drug adherence also in patients who gain weight; the latter have a higher risk for Binge Eating Disorders.