Chris Bushe

..A number of studies have examined the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in general populations and in those with schizophrenia and other forms of serious mental illness...

..Most evidence suggesting an association between schizophrenia, antipsychotic medications and diabetes has been based on retrospective studies not controlled for important confounders...

..Clinicians may wish to add prolactin measurement to the routine laboratory parameters currently measured for some antipsychotics and should be advised of the potential longer-term consequences of hidden hyperprolactinaemia...

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..Significant rates of hyperprolactinaemia of lesser severity and more transience have also been reported in association with other atypical antipsychotics...

..Weight management and lifestyle advice should be routinely offered to all schizophrenia subjects...

..Clinicians may be helped by the reporting of such categorical data from clinical trials in addition to mean cohort values of prolactin. Long-term hyperprolactinaemia may be associated with clinical sequeLae in some patients...