Physical health in schizophrenia

A recent phenomenon is that people with schizophrenia are at higher than average risk of physical ill health, and die earlier than the general population from natural causes.[1] The fatal conditions include cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic disorders.[2]

Although death by suicide in schizophrenia has received much needed attention, death from cardiovascular disease is far more common, accounting for up to 75 percent of deaths.[3] The causes of physical health problems include factors associated with mental illness and its treatment, poverty, poor housing, higher rates of smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise.[4][5][6][7]

Dynamics

Despite the high rates of physical health problems, mental health service users report that health care workers overlook their physical health needs.[8] Service users would like mental health practitioners to do more for their physical health. Rethink[9] interviewed 2,998 mental health service users, over half of whom lived with a diagnosed severe mental illness. Nearly one third said regular physical health checks were in their top three priorities for improving services. Mental health practitioners may feel unable to provide physical health input. Also there may be a feeling that people with mental health problems will not be interested in physical health education and support. In fact, much health promotion is simple and well received by service users. One review showed that people with schizophrenia benefited from a variety of behavioural interventions and achieved weight loss and lifestyle change.[10]

Another study found little evidence to support one intervention over another,[11] but argued that moderately strenuous exercise was important.

Health policy

Many guidelines reflect the need to incorporate physical health care into mental health provision, including NICE[12] in the UK. In primary care, the prodigy website provides practical and accessible advice.[13]

However, a review of international guidelines for physical wellbeing in SMI has found that recommendations are variable.[14] UK guidelines failed to address the specifics of physical health monitoring and lifestyle intervention, while United States guidelines were more descriptive. Field studies suggested that all guidelines were inadequately implemented in practice.

The DoH in the UK has recommended wide-ranging action to enable the general population to choose healthier lifestyles in the Choosing Health white paper.[15]

In the UK the National Health Service (NHS) is deeply split along physical/mental lines. Instead of treating whole people, services tend to treat parts of people separately.

The commissioning framework to support the physical health needs of people with severe mental illness recommends a holistic approach with interagency collaboration.[16]

Medication

The current medical view is that all patients suffering from schizophrenia must take medications for the disorder. These antipsychotic medications have adverse effects such as weight gain and induce feelings of fatigue that inhibit physical activity. The request for the schizophrenia sufferer to exercise for cardiovascular health then give medications (originally named "major tranquilizers") that inhibit activity is a double bind. [17][18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Elias, Marilyn (2007-05-03). "Mentally ill die 25 years earlier, on average". Titre : Mentally ill die 25 years earlier, on average. USA Today 5/3/2007.
  2. ↑ Harris EC, Barraclough B. Excess mortality of mental disorder. Br J Psychiatry 1998; 173: 11-53.
  3. ↑ Hennekens CH, et al. Schizophrenia and increased risks of cardiovascular disease. Am Heart J 2005; 150(6): 1,115-21.
  4. ↑ Phelan M, et al. Physical health of people with severe mental illness. BMJ 2001; 322: 443-44.
  5. ↑ Brown S, et al. The unhealthy lifestyle of people with schizophrenia. Psychol Med 1999; 29: 697-701.
  6. ↑ McCreadie R. Diet, smoking and cardiovascular risk in people with schizophrenia. Br J Psychiatry 2003; 183: 534-39.
  7. ↑ Vancampfort, et al. Considering a frame of reference for physical activity research related to the cardiometabolic risk profile in schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2010;177(3): 271-9.
  8. ↑ Friedli L, Dardis C. Not all in the mind: Mental health service user perspectives on physical health. J Mental Health Promotion 2002; 1:36-46.
  9. ↑ Rethink. Just one per cent. Kingston-Upon-Thames: Rethink; 2003. Available from: http://www.rethink.org/.
  10. ↑ Bushe C, et al. The role of lifestyle interventions and weight management in schizophrenia. J Psychopharmacol 2005; 19(6 Suppl): 28-35.
  11. ↑ Richardson CR, et al. Integrating physical activity into mental health services for persons with serious mental illness. Psychiatr Serv 2005; 56: 324-31.
  12. ↑ (Clinical guideline 1. Schizophrenia) http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/topic/behavioural and the Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines (see resources)
  13. ↑ CKS: Schizophrenia
  14. ↑ Citrome L, Yeomans D. Do guidelines for severe mental illness promote physical health and well-being? J Psychopharmacol 2005; 19(6 Suppl): 102-9.
  15. ↑ (Choosing health: making healthy choices easier. 2004) http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/fs/en
  16. ↑ (Choosing health: supporting the physical needs of people with severe mental illness – commissioning framework. 2006.) http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/fs/en
  17. ↑ "Antipsychotic medications are indicated" APA and Schizophrenia.com
  18. ↑ "The evolution of the nomenclatureof antipsychotic drugs" May 2002 Caroline King and Lakshmi N.P. Voruganti

Health Improvement

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