Medical Illness and Schizophrenia

In the past 5 years, an explosion of research has linked schizophrenia to medical morbidity and mortality. Lifestyle choices, effects of medications, poor self-care, and barriers to treatment of physical illness often compromise the health of patients with schizophrenia–increasing the severity of their psychopathology, reducing quality of life, and leading to premature death.

Medical Illness and Schizophrenia reflects a growing awareness of the importance of providing better medical assessment and treatment to improve outcomes. Since community health centers are most often the focus for care–and psychiatrists are often the de facto primary care providers–the book underscores the need to improve public health services for this underserved population.

This is the first and only volume to bring together research and practical recommendations on medical issues related to schizophrenia and antipsychotic medications. Chapters cover excessive morbidity and mortality in schizophrenic patients caused by obesity, glucose intolerance and diabetes, cardiovascular illness and hyperlipidemia, nicotine and tobacco use, HIV and hepatitis C, substance use disorders, neurological comorbidity, prolactin and endocrine-related disorders, and factors related to aging.

Medical Illness and Schizophrenia is an important volume for every clinician who encounters patients with chronic severe mental illness. In addition, it serves to underscore the need to provide integrated medical and psychiatric care to this vulnerable population.