Antipsychotic-Induced Alterations in Lipid Turnover

Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric disorder that is treated with antipsychotics. However, despite their efficacy, antipsychotics increase the risk of metabolic disorders in a population that suffers from premature cardiovascular death. Published reports to date strongly suggest that antipsychotic-induced alterations in lipid metabolism are part of the causal relationship between antipsychotic treatment and both metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Notably, some of the adverse effects of antipsychotics on lipid metabolism are independent of antipsychotic-induced weight gain. Moreover, some antipsychotics also have beneficial effects on certain aspects of lipid metabolism. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding how antipsychotics modulate lipid turnover at the whole-body, tissue, and cellular levels. We also highlight gaps in the literature, especially with respect to the intracellular mechanisms through which antipsychotics affect lipid metabolism.