The WHO guidelines address the need for physical treatment in severe mental illness

The WHO has published evidence based on guidelines for the management of physical health conditions in adults with severe mental disorders, according to a press release.

The guidelines include recommendations on how to behave in a healthy way of life (eg, healthier eating, more physical activity, and cessation of tobacco), psychosocial support and thinking about possible interactions between different medicines prescribed for mental and physical health conditions.

"Most of the dead among people with [severe mental disorders] may relate to physical health conditions, both irreplaceable and transferable, " Graham Thornicroft, Doctorate, FRCPsych, Chairman of the Development Group Guidance and Psychiatric Psychiatric Association at King's College in London and co-workers in the WHO summary.

"Equal access to comprehensive health services remains out of reach for most people with [severe mental disorders], "They continued." Unfortunately, people with [severe mental disorders] often have no access to health services or poor quality, including promotion and prevention, examination and treatment. It is crucial to eliminate differences in access to healthcare and helping people [severe mental disorders]. "

The guidelines contain recommendations for the treatment of people with mental illnesses with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, tobacco dependence, dependence on use and / or overweight / obesity. The World Health Organization has offered these guidelines to improve the management of physical health conditions in adults with severe mental disorders, reducing potentially risky lifestyles for these diseases, and reducing morbidity and premature mortality among those with severe mental illness.

Considering the potential for interaction between psychopathic or antipsychotic medicinal products and drugs for other conditions, it is an important feature of the guidelines.

In patients at risk of overweight or obesity, the WHO recommends the introduction of psychotropic medicines with a lower tendency to weight gain after considering the clinical benefits / possible adverse effects. For people with severe mental disorders and pre-existing cardiovascular disease or risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, the World Health Organization recommends the introduction of psychotropic medicines with a lower likelihood of cardiovascular risk.

For patients with severe mental disorders and diabetes, doctors should consider introducing an antipsychotic drug with a lower incidence of hyperglycemia production and be aware of potential interactions. WHO also advises glycemic monitoring and, if necessary, adjusting the dose.

For infectious diseases, clinicians should consider the possibility of interaction between medicines and psychotropic drugs, antiretroviral drugs, tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C medicines. For WHO tobacco-stopping programs, it recommends considering potential interactions between bupropion and varenicline with psychotropic drugs.

"In accordance with the principle of non-discrimination and general health care, which was defined in the objective of the United Nations sustainable development goals, people with [severe mental disorders] at least the same level of treatment for physical health conditions and their risk factors as the general population should be offered, "the WHO Development Group wrote in the summary. – Savannah Demko

Reference:

WHO. Health condition in adults with severe mental disorders. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/275718/9789241550383-eng.pdf?ua=1. It is available on November 7, 2018.