[Mental illness and physical disorders]

Abstract

Close association between mental disorders, e.g. depressive or anxiety disorders, and numerous physical diseases has been consistently reported in clinical studies of patients with specific medical disorders, as well as among persons undergoing treatment for mental disorders. Accurate classification of this comorbidity has major implications for diagnosis, treatment, and course of both the psychological disorders and concomitant somatic diseases. The article summarises studies and reviews of comorbidity of mental disorders and selected somatic conditions (oncological, cardiovascular, endocrinological, and musculo-skeletal disorders). Methodological issues, risk factors, possible mechanisms of comorbidity, and implications of these associations for diagnosis, treatment, and planning of future studies are described.