Metabolic Effects of Switching to Aripiprazole in Patients With Bipolar Disorders

Metabolic Effects of Switching to Aripiprazole in Patients With Bipolar Disorders Having Drug-induced Weight Gain

The primary goal of this study is to investigate metabolic changes and maintaining efficacy in stabilized patients with bipolar disorders who have pharmacologically induced weight gain.

• reduced treatment adherence due to metabolic side effects
• suggested advantages of aripiprazole in metabolic profile over other antipsychotics or mood stabilizers
• randomized trial of switch from previous drugs to aripiprazole

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with bipolar disorders (I, II, NOS) diagnosed with DSM-IV criteria
• age between 18 and 65
• Decisional capacity is adequate to provide informed consent or has an authorized appropriate surrogate decision maker. in a syndromal remission state at least for 2 months : CGI - BP ≤ 3
• patients who have exhibited a clinically significant increase in body weight after starting the administration of their current antipsychotic (ie >7% weight gain)

Exclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of eating disorder, substance abuse, and psychotic disorder
• history of neurological and medical illness
• pregnant or breast feeding women