Why does Clozapine cause weight gain?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Why does Clozapine cause Weight Gain? A Multilevel Examination of the Potential Mechanisms of Weight Gain
IRAS ID
131557
Contact name
Hisham Ziauddeen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Cambridge and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust
Research summary
Clozapine is the only second line treatment for schizophrenia. It however causes weight gain in 75% of patients, with a third experiencing more than 7% weight gain over 3 years. Why this happens is unclear. We believe that to investigate this requires an integrated approach that simultaneously examines multiple possible factors including genetic, metabolic and brain mechanisms. We propose to use such an approach and contrast patients who gain significant weight on clozapine (“vulnerable”) to those who gain little or no weight (“protected”). Our aim is to identify risk factors and develop treatments for clozapine related weight gain.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/EE/0282
Date of REC Opinion
23 Sep 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion