[Increased somatic morbidity in patients with severe mental illness]

Area of Science:

• Internal Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Patients with severe mental illness (SMI) experience elevated rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.
• SMI patients often receive inadequate diagnostic and therapeutic care for physical health conditions.
• Contributing factors include lifestyle, medication side effects, cognitive issues, and healthcare system organization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe new medical routines implemented in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, for psychiatric patients.
• To outline the components of the annual medical somatic checkup for SMI patients.
• To highlight the establishment of a liaison physician role to address these challenges.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of new medical routines for psychiatric patients in Region Västra Götaland.
• Provision of annual medical somatic checkups, including blood tests and electrocardiograms (ECG).
• Inclusion of lifestyle counseling covering diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

Main Results:

• Establishment of new routines to improve somatic healthcare for psychiatric patients.
• Introduction of annual medical checkups and lifestyle advice.
• Creation of a senior consultant in internal medicine/liaison physician position at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

Conclusions:

• Addressing the increased somatic mortality and morbidity in SMI patients requires systemic healthcare interventions.
• The new routines in Region Västra Götaland represent a structured approach to improving physical health monitoring and care for SMI individuals.
• The liaison physician role is crucial for integrating internal medicine and psychiatric care to optimize patient outcomes.