Physical Illness and Schizophrenia

It is well established that people suffering from schizophrenia have a higher prevalence of serious physical illness and a higher mortality than the general population. This book provides the first comprehensive and systematic review of current research evidence on the prevalence of physical diseases in people with schizophrenia, a disorder afflicting approximately 1% of the global population, and a group with mortality rates twice as high as the general population. The epidemiological data described in this book will provide the basis for improved awareness of these problems and better treatment for patients. This is the first in a series of books addressing an issue emerging as a priority in the mental health field: the timely and proper recognition of physical health problems in people with mental disorders. They should be read by policy makers, service managers, mental health professionals and general practitioners. '... a quick and easy reference guide and a good starting point for trainees and readers interested in co-morbidity...' Journal of Psychological Medicine 'This book is well worth looking at: a forceful reminder to clinicians not to focus too narrowly on the mental disorders of patients who are twice as likely to be suffering from something else as well.' Journal of Mental Health '... beyond its enormous merit in giving more salience to the issue of physical comorbidity in patients with schizophrenia, the book of Leuch et al. will hopefully ignite a new global research offensive in this field. The book is certainly uniquely suited to achieving this task.' Journal of Psychosomatic Research