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Physical Illness in Chronic Psychiatric Patients from a Community Psychiatric Unit

The Implications for Daily Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

A. Honig ,
P. Pop ,
E. S. Tan ,
H. Philipsen  and
M. A. J. Romme
A. Honig*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Sciences, University of Limburg; Community Psychiatric Service, (RIAGG) Maastricht
P. Pop
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Maastricht
E. S. Tan
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Statistics, University of Limburg
H. Philipsen
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing Science, University of Limburg
M. A. J. Romme
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychiatry, University of Limburg, Consultant Social Psychiatrist, Community Psychiatric Service, (RIAGG) Maastricht
*
∗University of Limburg, Department of Mental Health Sciences, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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Abstract

The prevalence and significance of physical diseases, and health-care-seeking behaviour, were examined in a sample of 218 chronic psychiatric patients from an urban community psychiatric unit. Only 14% declined medical screening. Of the respondents, 53% had one or more probable or certain physical diseases warranting further medical attention. The majority of the diseases found were minor and typical of primary care problems. A severe (i.e. life-threatening) disease was present in 7% of respondents. Of the patients, 87% visited their GP at least once a year. The implications are that frequent consultation with primary care specialists and health-care-seeking behaviour should be noted, and included in any evaluation of the medical needs of chronic patients in community psychiatric care.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 155 , Issue 1 , July 1989 , pp. 58 - 64
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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