In patients receiving long acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics, the risk of medication side effects needs serious attention.

The study objective is to determine in which measure co-morbid psychiatric symptoms influence the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MS).

Patients receiving LAI antipsychotics have a history of medication non-adherence, with recurrences and partial remissions. The aim of the study is to assess the contribution of residual psychiatric symptoms in the development of the MS in these patients.

The study includes two samples of psychotic remitted subjects, one including patients on olanzapine LAI and the other one patients receiving risperidone LAI for at least six months. The presence of co-morbid symptoms was assessed with BPRS. The International Federation of Diabetes diagnostic criteria for the MS were used. The following information was analyzed: medication, gender, fasting glycemia, lipid profile, waist circumference, blood pressure, and psychiatric symptoms.

The study included 28 patients, 15 (53.6%) on olanzapine LAI, and 13 (46.4%) on risperidone LAI. 15 patients were women and 13 men. 11 (39.2%) patients were diagnosed with MS. The whole sample presented higher scores at the following BPRS items: anxiety, somatic concern, and motor retardation.

Symptoms such as anxiety, somatic concern, and motor retardation may contribute to the development of the MS. 39% of the subjects presented the criteria of the MS.