Management of Physical Health Conditions in Adults with Severe Mental Disorders

Excerpt

People with severe mental disorders (SMD) - i.e. schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, and moderate‐to‐severe depression - have a 2-3 times higher average mortality rate compared to the general population, translating to a reduced life expectancy by 10 to 20 years. The majority of deaths amongst people with SMD are attributable to physical health conditions such as non-communicable diseases as well as infectious diseases. Risk factors for non-communicable diseases, such as sedentary behaviour and harmful use of alcohol, are also risk factors for SMD and strongly link the two. In clinical practice, however, such interactions and comorbidities are routinely overlooked.

WHO has initiated the process of development of recommendations on the management of physical health conditions in people with severe mental disorders. To this end, a Guideline Development Group (GDG) reviewed the GRADE evidence profiles for each outcome and each key question relevant to these guidelines and is formulating recommendations based on the evidence for the management of physical health conditions in people with severe mental disorders.

These new guidelines from WHO on management of physical health conditions in people with SMD will provide evidence-based, up-to-date recommendations to practitioners regarding how to appropriately clinically manage such co-morbid illness. These guidelines will facilitate the implementation of WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan(World Health Organization, 2013) and the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).