Efficacy of metformin for treatment and prevention of antipsychotic-induced overweight and obesity in women: an open-label, randomized, prospective placebo-controlled study

Background: The prevalence of obesity and metabolic abnormalities is increased patients with mental disorders receiving psychopharmacotherapy, which significantly impairs their treatment adherence.Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of metformin in prevention and treatment obesity and overweight in patients with mental disorders receiving antipsychotics.Materials and methods: This was an open-label, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study of female patients with mental disorders (age, 18 to 50). The patients were randomized into two groups in a 2:1 ratio: the treatment group received metformin and the control group received placebo. Metformin was administered at a starting dose of 500 mg daily, with subsequent up-titration every 2 weeks when necessary, up to 2000 mg daily. The treatment duration was 6 months.Results: Baseline BMI in the treatment group (N=62) was 27,3 [24,0; 30,4] kg/m2; it decreased to 26,0 [22,5; 30,5] kg/m2, p < 0.0001, Wilсoxon test) after 6 months of treatment. The patients receiving metformin decreased their body weight by 3 [-6; 0] kg, or  -4,0 [-8; 0] %. In the placebo group (N=30), the baseline BMI was 27,5 [24,0; 32,0] kg/m2 and increased to 28,2 [25,8; 34,0] kg/m2 at 6 month (p=0.001, Wilсoxon test), or 3 [1; 6] kg. After 6 months of treatment, the difference in BMI between the metformin and placebo groups was significant (26,0 и 28,2 kg/m2, respectively, р=0,027, Mann-Withney test). Six (6) of 62 patients treated with metformin had side effects and were switched to an equivalent dose of prolonged release metformin, with reduction of side effects in 5 of them.Conclusions: The use of metformin in patients with mental disorders receiving antipsychotics allows for reduction or stabilization of body weight in 80% of cases, with ≥5% decrease of body weight in 44% of patients. It is recommended to start metformin at a dose of 500 mg daily with subsequent up-titration of up to 2000 mg if necessary

Procrastination and Aggression for Mental Disorders in Young People

The article presents analyze the phenomenon of procrastination and indirect manifestations of aggression in young people in normal health and mental disorders. Procrastination - a frequent phenomenon among young people, for this category the term “academic procrastination”; the high level of the various manifestations of aggression can also accompany adolescents in health and disease. The purpose of research is analysis of the relationship of procrastination and manifestations of aggression in health and mental disorders in adolescence. A complex of methods of psychological diagnosis, which included: questionnaire “Procrastination Assessment Scale for Students” (PASS, Solomon & Rothblum, 1984) Rosenzweig Frustration Test, Wagners Hand Test. We studied two samples of subjects 18-25 years: a control group of healthy young people (boys and girls) - 61 people, the experimental group - young people of both sexes who had mental disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, affective disorders bipolar disorder, personality disorder) – 57. The results indicate the presence of the specific nature of components procrastination and indirect aggression manifestations of different levels at a young age for mental patholog