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Management of physical health in patients with schizophrenia: international insights

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

I.B. Chaudhry*
Affiliation:
Lancashire Care NHS Trust Early Intervention Service, The Mount, Whalley Road, Accrington, BB5 5DE, United-Kingdom
J. Jordan
Affiliation:
Medical School Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625Hannover, Germany
F.-R. Cousin
Affiliation:
Chi Poissy Saint Germain En Laye, 20 rue Armagis, 78105 St Germain en Laye cedex
R. Cavallaro
Affiliation:
Clinica Psichiatrica Università di Milano, Ospedale San Raffaele, Via Stamira D’Ancona, 20
J.M. Mostaza
Affiliation:
Unidad de Arteriosclerosis, Hospital Carlos III, Sinesio Delgado, 10, 28029Madrid, Spain
*
Correspondence. Tel.: +44 (0)1254 226392. E-mail address: [email protected]
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Abstract

This international meeting discussed the management of physical health in patients with schizophrenia in several countries including France, Spain, Germany, the UK and Italy. Physical health parameters, including weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, lipids and standard biochemical assessments are measured in many patients at the first hospital consultation. These reveal physical disorders such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, the metabolic syndrome, substance abuse, cardiovascular disease, extrapyramidal symptoms, sexual dysfunction and diabetes in substantial proportions of patients. Psychiatrists consider switching antipsychotic therapy if excessive sedation, extrapyramidal symptoms, unacceptable weight gain, hyperglycaemia or dyslipidaemia occur. In general, switching is more likely to be considered for symptomatic adverse events than for laboratory abnormalities. Switching is discouraged by limited knowledge of protocols, the absence of guidelines and fears of relapse or reduced treatment adherence. The physical health of patients with schizophrenia receives much less attention in the community setting than in the hospital setting. Improved guidelines, protocols, resources and support are needed to improve the physical health of patients in the community.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS

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