Reduced bone mineral density in patients with schizophrenia receiving prolactin raising anti-psychotic medication.

Patients with schizophrenia frequently develop drug-induced hyperprolactinaemia and consequent hypogonadism. Reduced bone mineral density as a consequence of hyperprolactinaemia-induced hypogonadism has been well documented in medical, but not psychiatric, disorders. Little attention has been given to the potential risk of developing osteoporosis secondary to anti-psychotic-induced hyperprolactinaemia. Three cases are presented that illustrate how this debilitating but silent disease may affect even those young individuals with schizophrenia.