National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) has received a Department of biotechnology funding of Rs 30 lakh for a research effort in the area of metabolic abnormalities leading to psychiatric disorders. The research which spans for three years will end in 2011.

The department of psychiatry which has set up a dedicated Metabolic Clinic and Schizophrenia Clinic are now examining patients on the hormone abnormalities and mental disorders which is one-of-the-first initiatives in contemporary international psychiatry.

The key objective of this research is to help synthesize existing clinical assessments and help translate it into meaningful approach to take care of psychiatric patients with metabolic conditions like obesity or hyperglycaemia. Under the research programme, about 60 schizophrenia patients and 40 healthy subjects for comparative purposes have been examined till now said Dr G Venkatasubramanian, assistant professor of psychiatry, consultant, Metabolic Clinic in Psychiatry and Schizophrenia Clinic of NIMHANS.

"It is through brain and blood analysis that we can get to know the metabolic and immunological brain deficits. By early 2010, definitive findings are expected," he added.

For the research, Dr V Ravi, professor and head of the department of Neurovirology at NIMHANS has also been associated.

The Metabolic Clinic in Psychiatry has substantial support about the link between metabolic abnormalities and psychiatric disorders. The metabolic abnormalities observed are obesity, insulin resistance, high levels of lipid and prolactin levels attributed to some anti psychotic drugs like olanzapine, clozapine, risperidone and other antipsychotics/psychotropics. The research has clearly found that some patients are showing these abnormalities.

"It is estimated that 30 per cent of 100 patients have indicated proven side effects. Our research is to systematically assess and formulate specific interventions to treat the side effects," said Venkatasubramanian.

Efforts are being worked out by a team of medical experts at the Clinic to formulate guidelines that help psychiatrists to opt for the correct interventions in handling anti psychotic drug side-effects which are on the rise. Extensive research is being carried out on the potential effects of these drugs on appetite, body weight and metabolic parameters. NIMHANS is now looking to assess and evaluate patients with metabolic risk.

The metabolic clinic in psychiatry provides the required treatment modalities in this special area. The clinic has made considerable efforts to ensure early assessment. It has also helped to identify a strategy to avoid side effects and also devise specific treatments to reverse these side effects. These have been administered to the patients manifesting such conditions. The panel of psychiatrists at the clinic recommend prescribing 'metformin' a much-sought after first line oral anti- diabetic drug to control sugar levels in particularly over weight and obese patients to tackle obesity factor in psychiatric cases. In some cases, the medical experts have also addressed the life style interventions by recommending diets and exercises to bring the condition under control.

According to Dr Venkatasubramanian, NIMHANS which has a 'multi-modal intervention' platform with psychiatrics, psychologists and social workers are also looking at holistic therapies where integration of Yoga and Ayurveda can be used to confront the biological and psychosocial aspects of schizophrenia.