| Learning Objective #1: Recognize and consider the importance of managing the physical health problems when providing care for people with persistent mental illness | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Understand the importance of providing information about positive and negative health behaviors that contribute to physical illnesses, as an important part of preventive care for psychiatric clients |
A high incidence of physical health morbidity among people with serious mental illness is repeatedly reported and considered a serious problem. The frequency of co-morbid physical health conditions among psychiatric patients ranges from about 50% to as high as 90%. This research was a two-group comparison design to compare a cohort of people with persistent mental illness living in the community with a randomly selected sample of adults in the same community. This presentation reports the findings from a survey of health habit behaviors of a large group of psychiatric patients living in the community (N-73) and a telephone survey of the general public in the same community (N=504). Of the six positive health behaviors measured, the psychiatric sample was significantly less likely to engage in two positive health habits, but no significant differences were found in the other four positive health habits. With regard to negative health habits, the psychiatric sample was significantly more likely engage in five of the negative health habits. These findings have relevance for clinical monitoring and health prevention education.
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