Checking physical care of people on risperidone long term injectable depot

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Internal Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Patients with severe mental illness (SMI) often experience significant physical health comorbidities.
• Adherence to national protocols for physical health monitoring in SMI patients is critical for comprehensive care.
• Long-acting injectable antipsychotics, such as risperidone, require regular physical health assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the current standard of physical care for patients with SMI.
• To determine compliance with national protocols and guidelines for physical health monitoring in SMI patients.
• To assess the frequency of physical health assessments in patients receiving risperidone long-acting injectable depot.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of medical records for 65 patients on risperidone long-acting injectable depot for one year.
• Data collection included baseline and six-monthly assessments of weight, physical examination, fasting blood sugar (FBS), serum lipids (S.L.), pulse, blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG), and liver function tests (LFT).
• Patients' comorbidity status with other physical illnesses was also recorded.

Main Results:

• Only 50% of patients received a physical examination at baseline; this decreased to 5% for maintenance ECG and 10% for LFTs at six months.
• Baseline screenings for FBS, S.L., pulse, blood pressure, and ECG were performed in 10-25% of patients.
• Six-monthly monitoring showed low adherence, with only 5% receiving ECG, 10% LFTs, and 30% Urea and electrolytes (U&E).

Conclusions:

• Physical health aspects are frequently overlooked in the management of SMI patients.
• There is a critical need for improved physical assessment and regular follow-up protocols for SMI patients.
• Promoting healthy lifestyle choices, including diet and exercise, alongside consistent monitoring, can enhance the overall physical health and treatment outcomes for individuals with SMI.