Funding a healthier future for people with schizophrenia
The Medical Research Future Fund has injected more than $3.8 million into a five-year clinical trial to determine more effective treatments for preventing antipsychotic drug-related obesity in patients with schizophrenia.
Led by Professor Dan Siskind (who holds research and clinical appointments at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The University of Queensland, and the Princess Alexandra Hospital) the trial will be conducted at community mental health clinics at six sites across Australia and involve a team of researchers from The University of Queensland, Deakin University, University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, The University of Adelaide, and The University of Melbourne.
Professor Siskind said the multi-site clinical trial was motivated by an urgent need to reduce obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in patients with schizophrenia who have been prescribed antipsychotic treatments.
“Antipsychotic drugs are the mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia; however, they are linked with obesity and diabetes which increase the risk of heart disease and early death,” Professor Siskind said.
“With the stigma around obesity in our society, patients who experience weight gain as a side effect of taking antipsychotics are less likely to want to take their medication.
“Consequently, this increases their likelihood of schizophrenia symptoms relapsing, thus increasing hospitalisation and social care costs, and decreasing quality of life for patients.
“Reducing the adverse side-effects of antipsychotic medications is therefore essential to reduce associated disease and death, and to improve quality of life for patients.”
Preliminary pilot research has indicated that two diabetes drugs (semaglutide and metformin) can reduce antipsychotic-related obesity.
“With preliminary findings on our side, we are hopeful that our Schizophrenia Weight, Metformin and Semaglutide (SWiMS) Trial will establish the role of these drugs in meaningfully reducing weight among obese people taking antipsychotics,” Professor Siskind said.
“Once we get the trial established, we intend to work with clinical sites in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Eastern Sydney, Westmead, North-West Melbourne, Geelong, and Adelaide to recruit suitable patients.
“With the involvement of patients and partners around the nation – and supported by MRFF funding – we now have a remarkable opportunity to equip doctors with a range of safe, acceptable, and cost-effective treatments to reduce abdominal obesity, risk of heart disease, and early death in people with schizophrenia who are taking antipsychotics.”