Physical health in schizophrenia

Author/s
Nadeem Mazi-Kotwal, Baljit Upadhyay
Citation
Issue 1 Summer 2011
CEPiP.2011.1.74-77
Abstract

Schizophrenia contributes significantly to the global burden of disease. Whilst it is well known that schizophrenia is associated with increased mortality from suicide, it is less well known that the mortality and morbidity from other physical illnesses is higher in people with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is associated with at least 20% reduction in the life expectancy and this may roughly equate to 20-25 years of lost life in developed countries. Of those living with schizophrenia in the community without substance misuse in UK, men experience 20.5 years reduced life expectancy and women 16.4 years reduced life expectancy. In people with schizophrenia, about 40% will attempt suicide and about 10-13% will end up committing suicide. A significant proportion of premature mortality is therefore not directly attributable to suicide, but can be linked to the co-morbid physical illnesses that exist with schizophrenia.

Cite as: Cutting Edge Psychiatry in Practice 2011, 1(1):74-77; https://doi.org/10.65031/yudq1526

References

  1. Murray CJ, Lopez AD. Global mortality, disability, and the contribution of risk factors: Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet. 1997;349(9063):1436-1442. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(96)07495-8
  2. Palmer BA, Pankratz VS, Bostwick JM. The lifetime risk of suicide in schizo-phrenia: a reexamination. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62(3):247-253. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.62.3.247
  3. Brown S. Excess mortality of schizophrenia: a meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry.1997;171:502-508.
  4. Newman, S.C., Bland, R.C., 1991. Mortality in a cohort of patients with schizophrenia: a record linage study. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 36 (4), 239–245. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674379103600401
  5. Brown S, Kim M, Mitchell C, et al (2010) Twenty-five year mortality of a community cohort with schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 196, 116–121. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.109.067512
  6. Saha S, Chant D, McGrath JA (2007) Systematic review of mortality in schizophrenia: is the differential mortality gap worsening over time? J. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007;64(10):1123-1131 https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.64.10.1123
  7. Connolly M, Kelly C. Lifestyle and physical health in schizophrenia. Adv. Psychiatr. Treat. 2005 11: 125-132 https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.11.2.125
  8. Brown S. Excess mortality of schizophrenia: a meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry. 1997;171:502-508.
  9. Simpson JC. Mortality studies in schizophrenia. In: Tsuang MT, Simpson JC, eds. Handbook of Schizophrenia, Volume 3: Nosology, Epidemiology and Genetics of Schizophrenia. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Elsevier; 1988:245-274.
  10. Tsuang MT, Perkins K, Simpson JC. Physical diseases in schizophrenia and affective disorder. J Clin Psychiatry 1983;44:42-46                 
  11. Harris AE. Physical disease and schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 1988;14:85-96.  
  12. McCreadie, R. G. (2003) Diet, smoking and cardiovascular risk in people with schizophrenia. Descriptive study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 183, 534–539. https://doi.org/10.1192/03-162
  13. Kelly, C. & McCreadie, R. (2000) Cigarette smoking and schizophrenia. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 6, 327–332. https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.6.5.327
  14. Meyer, J. M. (2001) Effects of atypical antipsychotics on weight and serum lipid levels. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 62 (suppl. 27), 27–34.
  15. Naidoo, U., Goff, D. C. & Klibanski, A. (2003) Hyperprolactinaemia and bone mineral density: the potential impact of antipsychotic agents. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 28 (suppl.2), 97–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0306-4530(02)00129-4
  16. Koran LM, Sox HC, Marton KI, et al. Medical evaluation of psychiatric patients. I: results in a state mental health system. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1989;46:733-740. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1989.01810080063007
  17. Phelan M, Stradins L, Morrison S. Physical health of people with severe mental illness [editorial]. BMJ 2001;322:443-444. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.322.7284.443
  18. Osborn DPJ. The poor physical health of people with mental illness. West J Med 2001;175:329-332  
  19. Druss BG, Bradford DW, Rosenheck RA, Radford MJ, Krumholz HM. Mental disorders and use of cardiovascular procedures after myocardial infarction. JAMA 2000;283:506-511. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.283.4.506
  20. Young JK, Foster DA. Cardiovascular procedures in patients with mental disorders [letter]. JAMA 2000;283:3198.