Background: Atypical antipsychotic medications increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular diseases in people with schizophrenia. Aim: To explore the prevalence of MetS and the predictors associated with the number of MetS components in people with chronic schizophrenia. Methods: We recruited 357 participants from 10 rehabilitation wards in northern Taiwan. The Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP), and modified Baecke physical activity questionnaire were used to evaluate the participants. MetS prevalence was calculated using the modified Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for Asians. Results: The prevalence of MetS in this sample was 37.8%. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that the HPLP-exercise score (odds ratio [ OR] = 0.411, p = .002) and depressive symptoms ( OR = 0.949, p = .040) were protective factors for ≥4 MetS components. The leisure physical activity level ( OR = .536, p = .024) was a protective factor for three MetS components. Body mass index ≥24 kg/m ² was the strongest risk factor for two MetS components ( OR = 8.057, p < .001), three MetS components ( OR = 11.287, p < .001), and ≥four MetS components ( OR = 15.621, p < .001). Additionally, participants’ age >40 ( OR = 3.638, p = .012) was a risk factor for ≥four MetS components. Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of MetS was higher than that reported for patients utilizing community-based services in Taiwan. The important risk factors for MetS were being overweight and older than 40. The protective factors for MetS were a high HPLP-exercise score and leisure-based physical activities.

Purpose: To investigate the association between lifestyle and atypical antipsychotic drug use in patients with schizophrenia and the risk of constipation and to assess the impact of anxiety and depressive symptoms on constipation risk. Methods: Cross-sectional convenience sampling was employed, and 271 participants aged 20–65 were enrolled. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire comprising participants’ demographic data, medication information, dietary behavior assessment, and the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. IBM SPSS 24.0 with multivariate logistic regression was used for data analysis. We performed a subgroup analysis of anticholinergic drugs via multivariate logistic regression. Results: In total, 180 participants had functional constipation; risk factors included female sex, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and quetiapine and aripiprazole use. Patients who drank more than 3,000 cc of water daily or used risperidone were less likely to have functional constipation. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were risk factors even after adjusting for sex, use of anticholinergics and laxatives, consuming two servings of fruit, consuming three servings of vegetables, consuming more than 3,000 cc of water daily, physical activity, medical comorbidity, chlorpromazine equivalent dose, and atypical antipsychotic use. Similar associations were found for two affective symptoms and functional constipation in the subgroup analysis of anticholinergic drugs. Conclusion: The prevalence of functional constipation in patients with schizophrenia was 66.4%. The risk factors included female sex, anticholinergics, aripiprazole, quetiapine, and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Risperidone users and those who drank 3000 cc of water daily were less likely to have constipation.