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Adverse Effects of Atypical Antipsychotic Agents and Their Effects on Quality of Life
Author(s) -
Dubisar Beth M.,
Stoner Steven C.,
Reynolds James,
Khan Rintu,
Ramlatchman Leonard
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.24.9.843.36098
Subject(s) - quality of life (healthcare) , medicine , affect (linguistics) , antipsychotic , adverse effect , psychiatry , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , disease , contentment , mental health , psychology , social psychology , nursing , communication
Study Objectives. To determine how axis III metabolic disturbances associated with atypical antipsychotic agents (weight gain, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia) affect patients' quality of life by comparing perceived quality of life of patients taking these agents who developed the disorders with those who did not develop them. A secondary objective was to compare patients' assessments of their quality of life with assessments made of the same patients by their treating psychiatrists. Design. Analysis of questionnaire results. Patients. Thirty three patients hospitalized at a Missouri Department of Mental Health long‐term care psychiatric facility after January 1, 1990. Measurements and Main Results. Participating patients independently completed the “long” form of the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire. The psychiatrists who treated these patients completed the Physical Health‐Activities section of the same questionnaire, based on their assessments of their patients' quality of life. Fifteen patients had a diagnosed axis III metabolic disturbance. For the group with these comorbid illnesses, the mean score on overall life satisfaction and contentment was 3.6 (fair to good). The corresponding value for the group without these comorbid diseases was 4.538 (good to very good). Psychiatrists' assessments of their patients' quality of life were less positive than the patients' own assessments, regardless of the existence of comorbid disease. Conclusion. Patients receiving atypical antipsychotic drugs had a perceived high quality of life and were satisfied with a variety of aspects of their lives. However, metabolic disturbances had a significant, detrimental effect on patients' perceived quality of life.