Review article

Mental Disorders and Physical Diseases

Igor Filipčić
Ivona Šimunović Filipčić

Abstract

Timely recognition and treatment of underlying physical conditions in psychiatric patients presents a challenge and is the goal of modern and successful treatment. It results in quality of life improvement of the individual patients and overall savings for the health care system and society. The life expectancy of psychiatric patients is reduced by 13 to 30 years compared to general population. This excess mortality is mainly due to late-diagnosed and poorly treated physical illness such as metabolic and cardiovascular disease (consequence of bad living habits; nutrition, smoking and lack of physical activity and exercise) as well as mental disorder. The consequences for patients with mental and somatic comorbidities are numerous and lead to worsening of prognosis and outcome of treatment. Unrecognized or late-diagnosis of underlying physical illness is the cause of up to 60% of premature or sudden deaths. Multimorbidities are associated with a more severe clinical picture, more frequent disease deterioration, as well as therapeutic resistance. Patients suffering from schizophrenia or major depressive disorder have a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, respiratory disease, cancer and other chronic diseases. High morbidity, disability, mortality rates and consequently high costs of treatment of chronic mental disorders with underlying physical illness are the reasons for launching a unique CIP program (Integrative Psychiatric Centre) at the Psychiatric Hospital “Sveti Ivan” as well as accross Republic of Croatia with the main aim of reducing mortality and improving the quality of life of psychiatric patients.

Keywords

psychiatric patients; comorbidities; physical diseases; treatment costs; integrative psychiatry

Hrčak ID:

189127

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/189127

Publication date:

8.11.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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