Metabolic syndrome: Relevance to psychiatry

ABSTRACT

The treatment of mental illnesses is receiving considerable attention in the current medical literature and has been a focus of reviews for adapting a holistic approach for recognition and management of the physical health needs of these patients. Metabolic syndrome, a major public health problem linked to cardiovascular and other morbidities, has gained a significant importance in clinical settings and patients with severe mental illnesses who are at higher risk for different components of this syndrome due to their illness and its treatment require careful and regular monitoring in this regard. This article summarises the current thinking about the concept, nature and extent of this syndrome with special reference to mental health and discusses its relevance in the current management of these disorders