Individuals with SMI are often unaware of their HIV status and they are unlikely to seek voluntary testing. Universal screening for diabetes rarely occur in individuals with SMI even though they suffer type 2 diabetes mortality outcomes are three times higher than the general population. Diabetes is increasing in the UK with 24,000 people dying yearly. Individuals with SMI are predisposed to being overweight due to adverse effects of psychotropic medications, higher percentage of body fat which leads to obesity from lack of physical activity.ġ77 million people (2.8% of the population) in the world were diagnosed with diabetes and expected to rise to 370 million (4.4% of the population) by 2030.
Nonetheless, without antipsychotic medications most people with SMI might suffer serious and disabling symptoms such as: hallucinations, delusions, impaired cognitive and social functioning.Ī body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 is considered obese. For instance, individuals can gain weight 5-6kg during the first two months of starting antipsychotic medications like Clozapine and Olanzapine and, their weight continues to increase past the first year. However adverse effects of antipsychotic medications, over sedation and extrapyramidal reactions are key factors for poor physical health amongst the chosen population. The clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health revealed that antipsychotic medications help to improve quality of life (QoL) for individuals with SMI. Individuals with SMI suffer from metabolic issues including weight gain, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases due to the side effects from long-term use of psychotropic medications. They die an average 20 years younger than the general population due to side effects of psychotropic medication such as lifestyle choices and lack of adequate information. Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) particularly those with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder are vulnerable to poorer physical health which results in higher rates of mortality and morbidity when compared to the general population. “The problem of physical health in individuals with severe mental illness remains a global public health concern” (World Psychiatric Association, 2009, p.1).
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