ABSTRACT
The fundamental components of the metabolic syndrome include abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and abnormalities in prothrombotic and proinflamatory factors. Individuals with diabetes and/or coronary heart disease as well as the metabolic syndrome are at increased risk for complications from their medical disorders. Visceral adipose tissue stores are highly correlated with metabolic and cardiovascular complications of obesity as compared to body mass index and/or subcutaneous adipose tissue. Prospective data suggest that children and adolescents with psychological traits such as anger and hostility are at increased risk for the metabolic syndrome. Weight gain, particularly central obesity, may be the most noticeable sign a patient is at increased risk for the metabolic syndrome. If treatment-related weight gain, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, or hypertension emerges, switching to another psychotropic agent with less propensity for metabolic side effects should be considered.
