Optimising prescribing for patients with severe mental illness: the need for criteria

The life expectancy of people with severe mental illness (SMI) is considerably shorter than those without SMI. Multimorbidity and poorer physical health outcomes contribute significantly to this health inequality. Psychotropic medicines, including antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilisers and anxiolytic medicines, are the mainstay of treatment for SMI, and overall improve life expectancy and quality of life. Optimising medicines is required to ensure adequate control of symptoms while avoiding complications and negative physical health outcomes. Screening tools would offer an opportunity to assist clinicians in decision making and optimising medicines for people with SMI, who are particularly vulnerable to medication-related problems and poorer physical health.