Royal College of Psychiatrists: Majority of male psychiatric patients also have physical health problems

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Wednesday, 02, Jul 2008 12:00

A new study has found that the majority of men admitted to a psychiatric in-patient ward had physical health problems as well - mainly diabetes, hypertension, and chronic back pain.

Previous research has shown that illness and death rates among psychiatric patients are higher than in the general population. For instance, the death rate for patients with schizophrenia is nearly three times that of the general population. 60% of the excess mortality among psychiatric patients can be attributed to the same broad range of conditions that cause deaths in the general population. Mood disorders, such as depression, are associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular disease in men.

The aim of this study was to examine the physical health of those admitted to an acute all-male psychiatry in-patient unit, to see how this compares with general out-patients and the general population.

Between February and August 2007, extensive information was collected on 55 consecutive in-patient admissions to the same acute adult in-patient ward at Guy’s Hospital, London. The patients’ average age was 43. Only 20% were married. 29% had a criminal record.

There was a range of psychiatric diagnoses, the most common being paranoid schizophrenia (25%), drug and alcohol misuse (18%), bipolar disorder (16%), and acute and transient psychotic episode (11%).

Nearly half of the men studied (26) were also using cannabis. The average estimated duration of illness was 141 months, and there was an average of three previous admissions per in-patient.

65% of the patients were detained under the Mental Health Act. Only 53% of those studied had support from their families, and none were employed. The majority of them also had physical health problems, and were taking prescribed drugs both for psychiatric and physical illnesses.

Both average blood pressure and pulse rates were raised among these patients. 25% of them had an abnormal ECG, and 25% had raised cholesterol levels. Their average body mass index was 27, indicating that they were overweight or obese.

The researchers conclude that this group of patients had significantly worse physical health than the general population, and that it was significantly worse than has been found in previous studies.

This study raises serious concerns about avoidable health risks, such as obesity, they say. It illustrates the need for increasing the provision of primary care services and health promotion for psychiatric in-patients on acute wards.

Reference:

Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Annual Meeting, Imperial College London 1 - 4 July 2008

For further information contact Dr Emma Stanton, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

Tel: 07789 950 774. E-mail: emma.stanton@slam.nhs.uk

Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Press Office: 020 7235 2351 exts. 298 or 127.

From 1-4 July, please call the Annual Meeting Press Office on 020 7594 8636 or 020 7594 1847.