Evaluating the Effect of the STEP@STAH Semaglutide Protocol on the Physical Health Measures of Atypical Antipsychotic-Treated Patients

Overview

A significant number of patients who are prescribed anti-psychotic medication such as clozapine are considered as clinically obese (BMI \>35.0). While this may be associated with the appetite promoting properties of the drug, other factors including apathy and lack of physical activity and exercise can exacerbate the weight gain. For those patients who are in a secure care setting and who have restrictions on movement, this provides a particular challenge. Therefore, a pharmacological option to assist in promoting weight loss would be an attractive option for patients who have reached levels of obesity and for whom diet and exercise alone may not be sufficient. The GLP-1 agonist class of drugs, including semaglutide (Wegovy®), have been approved for the treatment of patients as an adjunct to diet and exercise and for weight loss in adults who have a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater (obese) or weight-related health problems. The aim of this study is to determine whether long-term treatment with Semaglutide (Wegovy®), in combination with dietary advice, exercise and psychological support, will decrease the weight gain associated with anti-psychotic treatment. Patients will be chosen for the trial according to NICE guidelines for referral to a weight management plan. In addition to the weekly Semaglutide (Wegovy®) injection, they will have regular access to dietary and exercise support as part of an overall healthy lifestyle plan which will form part of their overall care plan. They will also be provided with psychological support as a previous trial demonstrated that behavioural support was important, especially at the early stages of such therapy. The patients' progress will be monitored (weight, activity, diet) throughout the duration of the trial. The results will identify those patients who are most likely to benefit from this therapy and can be used to generate treatment guidelines."

The purpose of the study is to determine whether patients who have gained weight due to being prescribed anti- psychotic drugs (olanzapine or clozapine) and have become clinically obese (BMI\>35.0) will react to the GLP-1 agonist class of drugs, including semaglutide (Wegovy®), which have been authorised for the treatment of patients as an adjunct to diet and exercise and for weight loss. These have been demonstrated to be effective in adults who are obese due to general overeating and lack of exercise (general lifestyle factors). However, there have been no studies carried out on patients who have had drug-induced weight gain where the drugs have had their impact, at least in part, by altering the body's metabolism. However, weight gain for patients who are treated with anti-psychotic medication is a complex issue as it cannot be solely ascribed to the drugs, as these people tend to be less active and by default to be more immobile. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine whether GLP-1 agonists (and specifically semaglutide), in combination with dietary and exercise advice (the "NEW You" healthy lifestyle programme) will have a similar impact to those who are obese due to an unhealthy lifestyle which is not drug-induced. Patients are acutely aware of the impact of anti-psychotic medication on their weight and have discussed options with their clinicians. However, they realise that exercise alone is not sufficient, and that certain drugs increase appetite. Therefore, informal discussions have led to a discussion on the potential use of medication which may assist in weight loss in conjunction with an overall healthy lifestyle (diet and exercise). This was part of the impetus to develop the trial initially at St Andrew's. However, in order to ensure that the evidence generated was robust, it was decided that it should be in the form of a phase 4 observational trial with specific outcome measures. As it would not be feasible to have a placebo control group, it will be in the form of a pre-post analysis. Recruitment: Patients who are eligible to enrol in the trial will be identified by their responsible clinician. They will then be approached by a member of the research team who will explain the trial, what it involves and the potential benefits. In particular, they will be made aware that the programme is not just a drug trial but will also involve engagement in a healthy lifestyle programme where the participants will be encouraged to become aware of their diet and also to engage in exercise. Expert members of the multidisciplinary team will provide support throughout the trial and the participants will be made aware of this through the research team. The trial will also be an integral part of their care plan. Consent: Patients should be deemed by their responsible clinician as being capable of giving consent to participate in the study and to engage in the interventions such as keeping a food, exercise and sleep diary with the assistance of a staff member. Risks, burdens and benefits: As Wegovy is a routinely available drug that will be prescribed under NICE guidelines with patients and staff being made aware of the potential side effects, the risks will be minimal. Full information about the trial will be available in the patient information sheet and support information will be available in the NEW You healthy lifestyle programme documentation which was developed at St Andrew's in 2020 as part of an NHS Commissioning and Quality Innovation (CQUIN) Framework with significant patient input. Participation in the study should result in an overall healthier lifestyle with a greater awareness of diet and exercise, with support from staff and an improved physical health. Participants will be encouraged to monitor their food, activity and sleep (FAS diary), which will increase their awareness of a healthy lifestyle and the benefits thereof. The majority of outcome measures will be routine measures (BMI, blood pressure) and there will be three additional questionnaires administered every three months, each taking approximately ten minutes. The patients will also undergo questionnaires to assess their attitude towards the study (qualitative research) prior to the start of the study, at 12 months and upon completion of the study. This will be should take up to 15 minutes. These will be carried out at the patient's own convenience. Additionally, the patient will be asked to wear an activity monitor (in the form of a watch) for one week every three months. This has been used in previous exercise- based studies at St Andrew's and they have been shown to be well tolerated and the patients are interested to understand the amount of activity that they undergo on a daily basis. . Confidentiality: All of the data collected during the study will stored in a password-protected file on the St Andrew's server and only available to names members of the research team. This is highlighted in the patient information sheet.