The Association Between Antipsychotic Medication and Weight Gain

• Antipsychotic medications are utilized for patients with many mental health problems including schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, bipolar mania, and psychotic depression. The antipsychotic medications treat the symptoms associated with these mental health disorders. • Antipsychotic medications, while being efficacious to these symptoms, can have unwanted side effects, including weight gain. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a strong relationship with antipsychotic medication use and weight gain. • The review of literature was conducted with an online search of Cochrane, PubMed, and PsycInfo for journal articles, research studies, and other scholarly reviews. Articles included in the search described the proposed mechanisms of how antipsychotic medications can result in weight gain. • The literature review indicated antipsychotics contribute to increased weight gain with second generation antipsychotic medication use resulting in more weight gain than the use of first generation antipsychotic medications.https://commons.und.edu/pas-grad-posters/1053/thumbnail.jp