Body mass index and functioning in long-term schizophrenia : Results of the DSP project

ObjectiveThe study evaluates the association of body mass index (BMI) with functioning in male and female patients with long-term schizophrenia.Method722 long-term schizophrenia patients were interviewed three years after discharge from hospital. Their weight and height were recorded and data on their background, illness history, psychosocial functioning (Global Assessment Scale; GAS), health behaviour, daily doses of neuroleptics, and psychiatric symptoms were collected.ResultsBMI correlated significantly with GAS scores in male (r = 0.202, p = 0.000) but not in female patients. In male patients, BMI associated significantly (p = 0.005) with GAS scores even when the effects of psychiatric symptoms and other confounding variables were taken into account.ConclusionsIn male but not in female long-term patients with schizophrenia, low BMI associates with poor functioning. It is suggested that among male schizophrenia patients, low BMI may be an indicator of poor functioning.