Overweight and the use of psychiatric drugs in patients with mental disorders attended at psychosocial care center, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Psychopharmacology brought numerous benefits to people with mental disorders, although undesirable side effects have arisen, including weight gain.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the overweight frequency in individuals with mental disorders and its relation with the use of psychiatric drugs.  

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study with patients with mental disorders of both sexes, older than 18 years. Body Mass Index (BMI) used to diagnose overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2). Chi-square test of Pearson (c²) and Poisson regression were used for analytical statistics for association between variables.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: the study involved 109 individuals. Overweight was found in 70.7% of the study population, 29.4% presented pre-obesity, 26.6% were obese class I, 8.3%, obese class II, and 6.4% obese grade III (morbid). The overweight prevalence was significantly higher among patients who used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (PR = 1,42, 95% CI 1,12 to 1,80, p = 0,004), typical antipsychotics (PR = 1,43, 95% CI 1,13 to 1,80, p = 0,003), atypical antipsychotics (PR = 1,24, 95% CI 1,01 to 1,54, p = 0,045) and benzodiazepines (PR = 1,37, 95% CI 1,10 to 1,71, p = 0,004) when compared to those who used tricycle antidepressants ((PR=1,20, 95% CI 0,93 to 1,54, p=0,153) and mood stabilizers (PR=1,09, 95% IC 0,88 to 1,35, p=0,416) .

CONCLUSION: High prevalence of overweight significantly higher among patients who used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, typical and atypical antipsychotics and benzodiazepines.