Health monitoring for patients who have schizophrenia. Summary of the Mount Sinai Conference recommendations

• Published in: Postgraduate medicine Vol. Spec No; p. 20
• Main Authors: Covell, Nancy H, Jackson, Carlos T, Weissman, Ellen M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England JTE Multimedia 01-09-2006
• Subjects: Antipsychotic Agents - administration & dosage; Antipsychotic Agents - adverse effects; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - chemically induced; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - prevention & control; Basal Ganglia Diseases - chemically induced; Basal Ganglia Diseases - prevention & control; Cataract - chemically induced; Cataract - prevention & control; Contraindications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - chemically induced; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control; Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced - prevention & control; Humans; Hyperlipidemias - chemically induced; Hyperlipidemias - prevention & control; Hyperprolactinemia - chemically induced; Hyperprolactinemia - complications; Hyperprolactinemia - prevention & control; Myocarditis - chemically induced; Myocarditis - prevention & control; Obesity - complications; Obesity - prevention & control; Schizophrenia - complications; Schizophrenia - drug therapy; Schizophrenia - physiopathology; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - etiology; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - prevention & control; Weight Gain - physiology
• ISSN: 0032-5481; 1941-9260

Schizophrenia is associated with several chronic medical illnesses and a reduced life expectancy. This paper summarizes findings and recommendations from "The Mount Sinai Conference," held at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York on October 17-18, 2002, and discusses the implications for improving medical monitoring of patients with schizophrenia who are managed in outpatient settings from the initiation of treatment. The Mount Sinai Conference involved a diverse panel of experts, including specialists on schizophrenia, obesity, diabetes, cardiology, endocrinology, and ophthalmology. Consensus recommendations included baseline measurement and regular monitoring of body mass index, blood glucose, lipid profiles, signs of prolactin elevation or sexual dysfunction, and movement disorders. Information from such measurements should be considered when selecting or switching antipsychotic agents and should trigger an evaluation of medication when abnormalities are detected.