[Osteoporosis risk factors among patients with schizophrenia]

Abstract

The etiopathogenesis, risk factors and indications for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in patients with schizophrenia are presented. Accelerated decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) is mostly attributed to antypsychotics (drug-induced hyperprolactinemia and decrease in levels of estrogen and testosterone), insufficient calcium intake, low physical activity and limited exposure to sunshine, alcohol and tobacco intake, polidypsia. Clinical symptoms of osteoporosis (eg. vertebral fractures) develop very slowly and in patients with schizophrenia are very rarely diagnosed. Many of risk factors (especially adequate choice of pharamcotherapy and monitoring of BMD) might be prevented in order to decrease the prevalence of osteoporosis in population of patients with schizophrenia.