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The Effects of an Educational Intervention on Antipsychotic‐Induced Weight Gain
Author(s) -
Littrell Kimberly H.,
Hilligoss Nicole M.,
Kirshner Carol D.,
Petty Richard G.,
Johnson Craig G.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of nursing scholarship
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1547-5069
pISSN - 1527-6546
DOI - 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2003.00237.x
Subject(s) - psychoeducation , weight gain , weight change , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , schizoaffective disorder , medicine , antipsychotic , olanzapine , intervention (counseling) , physical therapy , psychiatry , weight loss , psychology , body weight , psychosis , obesity
Purpose: To assess the effect of an educational intervention on antipsychotic‐induced weight gain among patients with schizophrenia. Design and Methods: Quasi‐experimental. Seventy patients with a DSM‐IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder entered this 6‐month study condicted in the United States. All participants began receiving olanzapine treatment when they entered the study. The patients were then randomly assigned to an intervention group or a standard care group. Over the next 4‐months, the intervention group participated in weekly psychoeducation classes focused on nutrition, exercise, and living a healthy lifestyle. Patients were followed for an additional 2 months to assess weight change. Findings: A statistically significant difference in weight change between the two groups was observed post‐treatment and at endpoint. At endpoint, the mean weight change of the intervention group was ‐.06 pounds, while the mean weight change in the standard care group was 9.57 pounds. In both groups, men gained significantly more weight than did women. Conclusions: The results indicate that a structured educational intervention might have a positive effect on antipsychotic‐induced weight gain among patients with schizophrenia.