Evidence mapPaperPMID 39657713Full record

ArticleSchizophrenia bulletin2025

Metformin for the Prevention of Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain: Guideline Development and Consensus Validation.

Aoife Carolan, Caroline Hynes-Ryan, Sri Mahavir Agarwal, Rita Bourke, Walter Cullen, Fiona Gaughran, Margaret K Hahn, Amir Krivoy, John Lally, Stefan Leucht and 12 more

Abstract readValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Schizophrenia bulletin, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
22citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

22 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Guideline
  2. Pooled it
  3. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026
    Guideline
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Closing the Gap: A Primary Care Refresher for Psychiatry Residents.Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry · 2026
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Review
  14. Article
  15. Metformin Alone and in Combinations Alter the Methylation Patterns ofEndocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets · 2026
    Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

22 authors.

Aoife CarolanPharmacy Department, Saint John of God Hospital, Dublin, A94 FH92, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0003-0821-1489
Caroline Hynes-RyanPharmacy Department, Saint John of God Hospital, Dublin, A94 FH92, Ireland.
Sri Mahavir AgarwalSchizophrenia Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada.
Rita BourkePharmacy Department, Saint John of God Hospital, Dublin, A94 FH92, Ireland.
Walter CullenSchool of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland.
Fiona GaughranDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.
Margaret K HahnSchizophrenia Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada.
Amir KrivoyGeha Mental Health Centre, Petal Tikva, 49100, Israel.ORCID 0000-0003-2218-3250
John LallyDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.
Stefan LeuchtDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, 81675, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-4934-4352
John LyneDepartment of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, D02 V951, Ireland.
Robert A McCutcheonDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.
Michael J NortonSt Loman's Hospital, Westmeath, N91T3PR, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0002-7420-9339
Karen O'ConnorRISE, Early Intervention in Psychosis Team, South Lee Mental Health Services, Cork, T12 YEO2, Ireland.
Benjamin I PerryDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB20SZ, United Kingdom.
Toby PillingerDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-6074-2626
David ShiersPsychosis Research Unit, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust Rico House, Manchester, M25 9WS, United Kingdom.
Dan SiskindAddiction and Mental Health Service, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Queensland, QLD 4114, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-2072-9216
Andrew ThompsonOrygen Youth Mental Health, Melbourne, Victoria, VIC 3052, Australia.
Donal O'SheaSchool of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland.
Dolores KeatingPharmacy Department, Saint John of God Hospital, Dublin, A94 FH92, Ireland.
Brian O'DonoghueSchool of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0001-6240-6952

Funding

Health Research Board APRO-2023-005
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOverweight and obesity are highly prevalent in people with severe mental illness (SMI). Antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG) is one of the most commonly reported and distressing side effects of treatment and people living with SMI place a high value on the avoidance of this side effect. Metformin is the most effective pharmacological intervention studied for the prevention of AIWG yet clear guidelines are lacking and evidence has not translated into practice. The aim of this research was to develop a guideline for the use of metformin for the prevention of AIWG. STUDY

designThe appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation II instrument (AGREE II) was followed for guideline development. Literature was reviewed to address key health questions. The certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE methodology and an evidence-to-decision framework informed the strength of the recommendations. A consensus meeting was held where the algorithm and strength of recommendations were agreed. An independent external review was conducted involving experts in the field, including patient and public partners. STUDY

resultsMetformin is the only pharmacological agent that has demonstrated efficacy for preventing AIWG. Co-commencement with antipsychotic medicines can reduce the extent of weight gain by 4.03 kg (95% CI -5.78 kg to -2.28 kg) compared to controls. A guideline for the use of metformin for the prevention of AIWG was developed with specific recommendations for co-commencement of metformin at initiation with an antipsychotic or commencement if certain criteria are present. Core recommendations were graded as strong by consensus agreement.

conclusionsThis is the first published evidence-based guideline using the AGREE II framework and GRADE methods for the use of metformin to prevent AIWG incorporating recommendations for co-commencement. Implementation and evaluation of the guideline will be supported by a shared decision-making package and assessment of barriers and facilitators to implementation.

Indexed as

Antipsychotic AgentsHypoglycemic AgentsMetforminOverweightPractice Guidelines as TopicWeight GainConsensusHumansAntipsychotic AgentsHypoglycemic AgentsMetforminantipsychoticmetforminpreventionsevere mental illnessweight gain

Identifiers

PMID39657713
PMCPMC12414565

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.