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The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism is associated with increased body mass index and insulin resistance measures in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

We tested the hypothesis that a common functional variant in brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Val66Met, which has been shown to be associated with increased body mass index (BMI) in schizophrenia (SCZ) and schizoaffective disorder (SAD), is also associated with antipsychotic‐induced weight gain in bipolar disorder (BPD). Association of Val66Met with other metabolic measures, including high‐ and low‐density cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and hemoglobin A1c, was also tested.

Effect of clozapine on serum leptin, insulin levels, and body weight and composition in patients with schizophrenia☆

OBJECTIVE Weight gain frequently occurs during treatment with clozapine. However, the pathophysiology of clozapine-induced weight gain remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of clozapine on hormones leptin and insulin in relation to body weight and composition measures to determine their contribution to clozapine-induced weight gain. METHOD Data are reported on 19 patients with schizophrenia (11 women and 8 men) who completed 10 weeks of treatment with clozapine. Insulin levels, weight measurements, body mass index (BMI), and body composition measurements were evaluated at baseline and at the end of treatment. Leptin levels were assessed at baseline and after 4 and 10 weeks of treatment. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to evaluate changes in weight, body composition measures, leptin, and insulin. The Pearson correlations were used to assess the relationships between changes in hormone levels and weight along with body composition measurements. The correlations of change in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score with changes in hormone levels, weight gain and body composition measures were evaluated with Pearson correlations. RESULTS Leptin and insulin levels did not show any significant alterations across time. The use of clozapine was associated with significant increases in BMI (F=19.8, P<.001), lean muscle mass (F=8.2, P=.01), and fat mass (F=15.4, P=.001), while total body fluid percentage (F=4.1, P=.05) significantly decreased. Improvement in PANSS scores was not correlated to change in leptin, insulin, weight, BMI, or body composition measurements. The change in leptin levels was correlated to change in body fat mass. CONCLUSION The role of leptin in weight gain induced by clozapine might be a regulatory mechanism rather than being etiologic.

Panic symptoms in schizophrenia: Comorbidity and clinical correlates

Abstract  The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of panic attack (PA) and panic disorder (PD) in patients with schizophrenia and detect the clinical features. Forty‐nine patients with schizophrenia were included in the study. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale (ESRS) and Bandelow Panic and Agoraphobia Rating Scale were administered. Fifteen patients were found to have PA and seven patients had PD. Patients with panic symptoms had higher scores of PANSS, HDRS, CGI and ESRS. Comorbid panic symptoms in schizophrenia may be related to positive symptoms, extrapyramidal side‐effects and depression.