An online survey of European psychiatrists assessed awareness of the metabolic syndrome and its influence on the management of bipolar disorder.

Psychiatrists in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy were surveyed from April to June 2006. Eligibility criteria w ere 4–30 years in practice, ≥50% of time in direct patient care, had seen ≥10 bipolar patients in the preceding month. Aggregate data were weighted to represent the practicing physician population per country.

Of 718 respondents, 56% had diagnosed metabolic syndrome. Respondents reported that metabolic syndrome prevalence was higher in bipolar patients (25%) than in the general population (20%). Seventy-two percent felt that metabolic syndrome poses significant health risks, warranting monitoring/treatment, and were most concerned with the bipolar medication adverse effects of weight gain, cognitive impairment, and glucose intolerance. Survey respondents recognized clear differences among psychotropic agents in the propensity to induce metabolic adverse effects. Sixty-five percent of respondents indicated that they had made interviewing and monitoring changes in the past three years as a result of metabolic concerns.

European psychiatrists view metabolic syndrome as highly prevalent in the general population and in bipolar patients; twothirds have changed their management of bipolar patients because of metabolic health concerns.