Project Summary

Hugh Brent Solvason M.D., Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2005) of Stanford University, plans to examine a method to reduce the medical complications associated with the use of atypical antipsychotic medications, to improve clinical outcomes, and reduce the medical and psychosocial burden in people with bipolar disorder. Although atypical antipsychotic medications, such as olanzapine, are highly effective in treating bipolar disease, the risk of developing weight gain and diabetes complicates the use of these medications because of the possible adverse problems and the dysfunction in some individuals. Recently, however, a quantitative assessment has been developed to assess insulin sensitivity, or the ability of the body to use insulin. Dr. Solvason plan to use this highly specific assay, which first suppresses the body’s insulin and glucose production, and then quantitatively assesses infused glucose utilization by maintaining constant levels of infused insulin. He will examine bipolar patients who have experienced weight gain of 5 percent or more while treated with olanzapine, and are thus expected to have shifts in insulin resistance. Specifically, he will measure insulin sensitivity using this highly specific assay before and after 90 days of treatment with placebo or metformin, an oral hypoglycemic drug that may cause weight loss. Dr. Solvason expects this treatment to normalize insulin sensitivity, making continued olanzapine treatment safe and tolerable.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Bipolar

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