The importance of metabolic testing for patients with severe mental illness

Serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, often has a negative impact on metabolic systems and shortens average life span^1-3 — especially when you add antipsychotic medications to the mix.

• Schizophrenia affects 23.6 million and may shorten lives by 14.5 years on average³
• Bipolar disorders affect 39.5 million and may reduce life span by 12.8 years³

A complicated mix

Serious mental illness + antipsychotic medications + metabolic systems = Need for patient monitoring.

In fact, antipsychotic medications can make metabolic issues like diabetes worse.² Those with serious mental illness are also 75% more likely to develop early-onset cardiovascular disease, a leading metabolic cause of death.¹

Regular metabolic testing recommended

These facts only underscore the importance of early and regular metabolic testing, patient education and careful coordination of care with other behavioral health and medical professionals in children and adults with serious mental illness and/or who are prescribed antipsychotic medications.

Want to know more? The following metabolic testing information and resources can help:

• Metabolic testing information for adults
• Metabolic testing information for children

¹ Fibbins, H., et.al. (2025). “Keeping their hearts in mind – cardiometabolic health and severe mental illness.” Medicine Today, 26(5), May 2025, p. 26-32.

² Otokunefor, O. and Atoe, K. (2025). “The Nexus Between Metabolic Syndrome and Mental Health Disorders: A Review.” Open Journal of Medical Research, 6(1), March 2025, p. 15-32.

³ Ho Ho, M., et.al. (2025). “Risk of mortality and complications in patients with severe mental illness and co-occurring diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” European Nueropsychopharmacology, Vol. 91, Feb. 2025, p. 25-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.11.002