Weight Gain in Children and Adolescents Taking Atypical Antipsychotics

Thesis (M.Nurs.), College of Nursing, Washington State UniversityAtypical antipsychotic use in children is increasing faster than any other psychotropic used with children. Children and adolescents are being prescribed atypicals to treat a great range of symptoms. Atypical antipsychotics are being prescribed to treat psychosis, aggression, depression, and movement disorders, to name a few. A problem known to affect individuals who take atypical antipsychotics is weight gain. Children using atypicals are also suffering from this possibly life threatening side effect. In the few studies completed on children taking atypical antipsychiotics, there is a correlation between weight gain and the implementation of atypical antipsychotics. The purpose of this manuscript is to explore the literature available on weight gain among children who are taking atypical antipsychotics. The paper will discuss why children are being prescribed atypical antipsychotics, the mechanism or action of atypical antipsychotics, weight gain and atypical antipsychotics, the prevalence of weight gain in children who are taking and who are not taking atypical antipsychotics, health issues related to weight gain, and weight control interventions. The manuscript will review two case studies that show the weight gain in children who were prescribed Zyprexa, an atypical antipsychotic