Patients treated with second generation antipsychotic medication over 12 weeks (n=7) had significant increases in bodyweight, fat weight, triglycerides, leptin and hs-CRP.Patients with schizophrenia have an increased prevalence of type-2 diabetes and accelerated coronary heart disease mortality. To investigate the metabolic consequences of the illness (schizophrenia) and treatment with second generation antipsychotic medication, the relevant literature was reviewed and two complimentary experiments were conducted.Unmedicated schizophrenia patients (n=9) had reduced insulin sensitivity (42%) and a tendency toward reduced adiponectin levels (30%), relative to matched healthy volunteers (n=9).These patients represent a newly defined "at risk" population from a metabolic and cardiac perspective and should be carefully monitored and managed for these risks.As a group, patients with schizophrenia have an increased susceptibility to type-2 diabetes and treatment with atypical antipsychotic medication results in adverse metabolic changes consistent with increased coronary heart disease risk.