Published on: 19th February 2025
We have been awarded £3 million to research the use of metformin in preventing antipsychotic-induced weight gain in people newly diagnosed with psychosis. This funding is a grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
The study, due to start June 2025, will be led by Dr Paul French, clinical researcher at Pennine Care NHS. This is working with Prof Richard Holt from Southampton University, University of Sheffield Clinical Trials Research Unit, and researchers from across the UK. The first patient recruitment will be in 2026.
This important research could improve the physical health for people on antipsychotic medication by preventing weight gain, a concern for many patients undergoing treatment for psychotic disorders.
Psychotic disorders are serious mental health illnesses and people typically experience distressing delusions, hallucinations, or disordered thoughts. While antipsychotics can reduce these symptoms, they can unfortunately lead to rapid and significant weight gain, particularly in the first six months of use.
Dr Paul French (pictured) explains: “This is an important clinical need that requires addressing for both patients and clinicians; as being overweight increases the risk of serious physical health conditions, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, as well as having a heart attack or stroke.
“Weight gain can have a negative impact on a person's self-esteem and mental wellbeing which can disrupt their adherence to medication. Consequently, having effective interventions for addressing weight gain is very important for both a person's current and future wellbeing.”
People living with serious mental health issues face one of the greatest health equality gaps in England, and this is largely due to preventable physical illnesses.
Metformin is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes and two small trials have demonstrated that it could be effective in preventing weight gain in people with psychotic disorders, but this further large-scale research trial is required.
Securing this NIHR grant, we hope this study will provide the evidence to improve patient outcomes by preventing one of the most challenging side effects of antipsychotic medication.
Special thanks to everyone working with us on this project, including University of Southampton, University of Sheffield, University of Leicester, Kings College London, Durham University, University of Manchester, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and City, University of London.