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The Commission, co-led by experts from the University of Oxford's Department of Psychiatry, King’s College London, and the University of Queensland, Australia, sets out practical recommendations for clinicians to manage the physical side effects of psychiatric drugs while preserving their mental health benefits.
Psychiatric medications are essential in the treatment of conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. However, these drugs can cause significant physical side effects - including weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, and raised cholesterol. These complications are often under-recognised and under-treated in routine care. If left unaddressed, these side effects can reduce quality of life, increase risk of long-term physical illness, and may lead some individuals to stop taking medications that are otherwise effective for their mental health.
The Commission systematically reviewed the available evidence across 11 major domains of side effects, including metabolic, cardiovascular, renal, sexual, and neurological complications. In response, it proposes a set of core monitoring and management strategies, beginning with a comprehensive physical health assessment at the point of prescribing, followed by early monitoring (e.g., weight checks within four weeks), and long-term follow-up of cardiometabolic markers such as blood sugars, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
Read the full story on the Department of Psychiatry website.