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The good news or the bad news?
I always want the bad news first -- get it out of the way, and then follow up with something more palatable. So here it is: People with schizophrenia have an elevated risk of colon cancer.
The good news? They have a lower risk of respiratory cancer.
Liz Spikol is senior contributing editor of Philadelphia Weekly. She writes the award-winning column The Trouble With Spikol, which began as a chronicle of her struggle with mental illness, and has since expanded into humorous musings on everything from graphic novels to how to use a mop. She also writes the paper's book review column, Lit Gloss. This blog -- named one of the Top 10 Bipolar Blogs of 2007 by PsychCentral -- is about mental illness policy, news, personal journeys and more.
Comments
Sadly, just another health issue for consumers of mental health services. In the Era of Wellness & Recovery, too many won't live to see either.
"Prevalence, Severity, and Co-occurrence of Chronic Physical Health Problems of Persons With Serious Mental Illness": (excerpted) - "Seventy-four percent of the study sample (N=109) [based on Medicaid claims] had been given a diagnosis of at least one chronic health problem, and 50 percent (N=73) had been given a diagnosis of two or more chronic health problems."
http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/55/11/1250
As for the likelihood that there will be more proactive monitoring of the health of persons with schizophrenia, one has to wonder if the words and deeds will ever interest.
"Clinicians Urged To Better Monitor Drug-Related Side Effects": (excerpted) - "Based on data from several studies presented at APA's annual meeting, it appears that less than 10 percent of patients on the medications [second generation antipsychotics] are being monitored using the APA/ADA consensus protocol."
http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/41/13/1-a
Posted by: Joe | December 20, 2007 11:55 PM