Parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism at the fasted state in drug-naïve first-episode patients with psychosis: Evidence for insulin resistance

•Higher insulin but similar glucose levels in drug-naïve psychosis patients vs controls.•Patients may be prone to insulin resistance even prior to starting antipsychotic therapy.•Similar cholesterol/triglycerides, marginally lower HDL in psychosis patients vs controls.

Diabetes and dyslipidemia are common in patients with psychosis; this association may be partly related to adverse metabolic effects of antipsychotic medications. We assessed glucose and lipid metabolism during the fasted state in drug-naïve patients with psychosis. Fasting serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL), glucose, insulin, connecting peptide (C-peptide), homeostatic model assessment index (HOMA-IR), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and serum cortisol were compared between a group of 40 newly diagnosed drug-naïve, first-episode patients with psychosis and a group of 40 healthy controls, matched for age, sex and BMI. Total cholesterol, triglycerides and fasting glucose levels were similar, whereas insulin and C-peptide levels were higher and HDL marginally lower in the patients' group compared to those in healthy controls. Drug-naïve patients with psychosis were more insulin resistant (as assessed by the HOMA-R index) compared to healthy controls. Serum cortisol did not differ between the two groups. There is evidence that drug-naïve, first-episode patients with psychosis are more insulin resistant compared to healthy controls.

Graphical abstractDiabetes and dyslipidemia are common in patients with psychosis; this association may be partly related to adverse metabolic effects of antipsychotic medications. We assessed glucose and lipid metabolism during the fasted state in drug-naïve patients with psychosis. Fasting serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL), glucose, insulin, connecting peptide (C-peptide), homeostatic model assessment index (HOMA-IR), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and serum cortisol were compared between a group of 40 newly diagnosed drug-naïve, first-episode patients with psychosis and a group of 40 healthy controls, matched for age, sex and BMI. Total cholesterol, triglycerides and fasting glucose levels were similar, whereas insulin and C-peptide levels were higher and HDL marginally lower in the patients' group compared to those in healthy controls. Drug-naïve patients with psychosis were more insulin resistant (as assessed by the HOMA-R index) compared to healthy controls. Serum cortisol did not differ between the two groups. There is evidence that drug-naïve, first-episode patients with psychosis are more insulin resistant compared to healthy controls.