A large-scale analysis has shown that people with severe mental disorders are nearly twice as likely to develop multiple chronic physical conditions, shortening their lives. Scientists pooled data from numerous studies, comparing the health indicators of hundreds of thousands of patients with millions of people in control groups. It was found that in the case of severe mental illness, the risk of having multiple chronic diseases simultaneously is significantly higher.
These conditions include metabolic disorders, hypertension, epilepsy, respiratory, vascular, kidney, and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as cancer. Poorly controlled physical illnesses worsen the underlying disorder and reduce life expectancy. A separate issue is the availability of care, as the majority of people with psychological disorders worldwide do not receive necessary mental healthcare. According to lead researcher Professor Lee Smith, mental and physical health are closely linked, therefore such patients need a comprehensive approach rather than separate treatments for the mind and body.
This study highlights serious gaps in the public health system that directly affect the quality of life of thousands of people. It is important to understand that the effective treatment of mental and physical problems requires an integrated approach, which is very often absent in everyday medical practice.
Moving forward, specialists' attention should focus on improving the accessibility of care for patients, as existing statistics indicate serious systemic problems.
