Physical morbidity and mortality in people with mental illness

摘要

Evidence has consistently shown that patients with mental illness have greater physical health morbidity and mortality compared to the general population.¹ Many factors have been implicated and include a generally unhealthy lifestyle, side effects of medication, and inadequate physical healthcare.^{2, 3} Higher rates of suicide and accidents are other known risks. Psychiatric patients are more likely to smoke, have less inclination to exercise, and are prone to poor dietary habits and obesity, the latter through general inertia, the result of the adverse effects of neuroleptic medication, or increased alcohol use. Psychotropic medication is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular complications, extrapyramidal side effects and sexual dysfunction. A broad range of clinician and organisational factors prevent access to adequate physical healthcare that in turn compounds the above problems.