What are we trying to do?

This study is co-developing (with service-users, carers, and mental health professionals), a feasible and acceptable non-pharmacological (non-medication) support package to enhance self-management of antipsychotic-induced hunger.

 

Why is it important?

In 2015, as part of the NIHR CLAHRC GM funding award, the team ran a research prioritisation event with service users, carers, and health professionals which highlighted antipsychotic related hunger as an important issue for those taking the medications. Whilst mental health professionals were largely focussed on weight-gain, service users identified the underlying issue of hunger side effects as their research priority, with most receiving little help and support in managing this issue.

 

Antipsychotic medications are the main way that mental health services treat conditions with features of psychosis. We know that about four out of every five people that start taking antipsychotics put weight on very quickly. People can gain two stone in the first 12 months of taking antipsychotic medication and continue to gain weight for at least another 3-4 years. We also know that weight gain increases people’s risk of developing long-term physical health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. People who gain weight from antipsychotic medication tell us that the hunger they experience is very different to usual hunger, with it being much harder to control. We therefore want to understand more about the experiences of antipsychotic related hunger and how it might be helpfully managed.

 

How are we doing it?

The SUSTAIN study consists of two main phases:

 

Examine - In phase one (1-12 months) we found out all we could about the current evidence base; via a scoping review of the literature on antipsychotic medication and eating behaviours, before embarking on a systematic review of non-medication interventions and/or support to manage antipsychotic-induced hunger. We also explored people’s experiences of antipsychotic-induced hunger, via a) a national survey, b) interviews with service users, and c) focus groups with carers and mental health professionals.

 

Co-develop - In phase two (12-18 months) we are co-designing a non-pharmacological support package based on the learning from phase one. We're working with a Lived Experience Advisory Panel that we specifically recruited to support this study. The panel consists of eight mental health service users and two carers, and we're working with them to co-design the package. We are running consensus workshops to include other service users and carers, as well as mental health professionals, to co-design and draft resources for the support package.

 

Who are we working with?

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

University of Manchester

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

SUSTAIN Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP)

 

Downloadable resources

 

• Publications
  • Alkholy R, Lovell K, Bee P, Pedley R (2025). The impacts of antipsychotic medications on eating-related outcomes: A mixed methods systematic review. PLOS One

 

Funding

This study was funded using part of £750k additional funding from NIHR to support Mental Health Research across Greater Manchester.

 

More information

 

 

 

Programme Manager
Gill Rizzello
gill.rizzello@manchester.ac.uk