New Study Shows Strong Link Between Severe Mental Illness and Physical Multimorbidity
A recent comprehensive study by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in collaboration with the University of Cambridge’s Biomedical Research Centre has shed light on a significant correlation between severe mental illnesses and physical multimorbidity. The study, which analyzed data from almost 200,000 psychiatric patients, found that individuals with severe mental illnesses are nearly twice as likely to experience chronic physical conditions compared to those without mental disorders.
Multimorbidity, defined as the presence of any combination of chronic diseases with at least one other physical health condition, was reported at a rate nearly 1.84 times higher by psychiatric patients than the control group in the study. Furthermore, these patients commonly reported conditions such as metabolic and respiratory diseases, as well as cancer.
The research, which synthesized data from 19 different studies with a total of 194,123 patients, emphasizes the need for a holistic approach in treating psychiatric patients in light of the significant health challenges they face.
Lead author Lee Smith, Professor of Public Health at Anglia Ruskin University, highlighted the far-reaching implications of this complex relationship between severe mental illness and physical multimorbidity. He stated that the link carries implications for decreased treatment compliance, increased risk of treatment failure, increased treatment costs, relapsing disease, worsening prognosis, and reduced life expectancy.
Smith also noted that poor clinical management of physical comorbidities in people with mental disorders exacerbates the issue, leading to an increased burden on individuals, their communities, and healthcare systems. Therefore, he emphasized the urgent need for a holistic approach to improve the physical, mental, and social outcomes of individuals dealing with severe mental illness and physical multimorbidity.
The findings of this study come at a crucial time when nearly one billion people worldwide are living with a mental disorder, making it a leading cause of disability. Additionally, a significant treatment gap exists, with 71% of individuals with psychosis globally not receiving necessary mental health services. This gap is particularly pronounced in low-income countries.
The study calls for a multidisciplinary approach to develop tailored models of services for patients with severe mental illness and physical multimorbidities, with the goal of improving overall health outcomes. The findings were published in the journal BMJ Mental Health.
The research was conducted by Lee Smith and his team at Anglia Ruskin University, and the study has been registered under PROSPERO with the registration number CRD42023395165.
For more information, readers can refer to the full research article “Relationship between severe mental illness and physical multimorbidity: a meta-analysis and call for action” published in BMJ Mental Health.