Physical health is increasingly becoming a problem for the severely mentally ill. In a study of patients with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, a large percentage were found to be overweight or obese, and a large number suffered from diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol.
Inactivity, poor diet, and excessive smoking were seen to be contributing factors among patients in state hospitals. Obesity was prevalent; patients were suffering from high blood pressure. And a significant number had abnormally high cholesterol levels A high proportion were being prescribed atypical antipsychotic drugs associated with weight gain.
Life expectancy for people with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia is reduced by up to 25 years. The major cause of death is not suicide, but cardiovascular disease.
People with serious mental illness are have a greater risk of dying at an earlier age, than are people without serious mental illness. Researchers are studying which causes of death are most prevalent for people with mental illnesses, and how this information might be used to increase life expectancy and treatment of patients.
Research is being done on the physical health of the general population as compared to the population that is dealing with mental health issues.
Heart disease was the number one causes of death, but people with mental illness were also more likely to die from liver disease, cancer, as well as unnatural causes such as accidents, assault and suicide. These health statistics provide insight as to what is most needed in treating the majority of patients; researchers hope it will help to provide programs that combine mental health therapy and physical health.
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