Promoting mental and physical health in adults with psychosis

Psychosis is an umbrella term for a range of mental health problems characterised by hallucinations, delusions, and/or becoming inactive or withdrawn. This article explores developments in understanding psychosis and reports on progress in finding effective treatments for psychotic symptoms. While such advances offer new opportunities to promote mental wellbeing, it is recognised that people with severe mental illnesses, such as psychosis, die up to 20 years earlier than the general population. Mortality rates from unnatural causes such as suicide are elevated in this group, but premature deaths are primarily the result of treatable physical health problems such as cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the poor physical health of adults with psychosis and the need to focus on interventions to enhance the mental and physical health of this often neglected population are considered.