Serum lipids in schizophrenia and other functional psychoses:: a general population northern Finland 1966 birth cohort survey

Objective: To compare fasting serum lipid concentrations of subjects with schizophrenia with a comparison group. Method: The study sample consists of 5654 members of the northern Finland 1966 birth cohort who participated in the field study with blood samples after overnight fasting and clinical examination in 1997-98. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and glucose were analyzed. Analysis of variance were used for comparing differences in lipids means between diagnostic categories. Results: Mean fasting TC in subjects with schizophrenia was 20 mg/dl higher than in the comparison group. TC and TG levels in the group of other psychoses resembled the schizophrenia group. Conclusion: Blood lipid levels in subjects with schizophrenia and other functional psychoses were high. As these persons are at special risk for hyperlipidemia their lipid levels should be regularly monitored, and cholesterol lowering diet, as well as medication, should be considered.