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Electronic Letters to:

Original papers: Irene Cormac, Michael Ferriter, Ram Benning, and Carol Saul Physical health and health risk factors in a population of long-stay psychiatric patients Psychiatr Bull 2005; 29: 18-20 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Electronic letters published:

Physical Health in Psychiatry

Partha Gangopadhyay   (28 April 2005)

Physical Health in Psychiatry 28 April 2005
Partha Gangopadhyay, Senior House Officer St Charles Hospital, London. Send letter to journal: Re: Physical Health in Psychiatry pgangopadhyay{at}nhs.net Partha Gangopadhyay	I read with interest Dr Cormac et al’s article about physical health and health risk factors in a population of long-stay psychiatric patients (Psychiatric Bulletin, January 2005, 29, 18-20). I have worked in a high secure hospital as part of my psychiatric training and have very similar observations regarding physical health parameters of patients. Avoidable health risk factors contributing to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality including high rates of smoking, central obesity, lack of physical exercise and poor dietary habits are prevalent among patients in Special Hospitals. The increase in health risk and consequent morbidity has to be evaluated in the context of psychiatric populations elsewhere as well as general population. The urgent need for health promotion activities and provision of primary care services in long-stay patient units cannot be overemphasized. The primary care services in Broadmoor Hospital are provided by a team consisting of general practitioner (GP), nurse practitioner, dietitian, podiatrist, dentist, visiting radiographer, visiting optician and part- time lady GP exclusively for women patients. In spite of having excellent fitness facilities including a well-equipped gymnasium & swimming pool, the majority of patients suffer from excessive weight gain and hypertension. The health & leisure department has collaborated with the dietitian and occupational therapy services forming a multipurpose working group promoting healthy activities. The individual wards are responsible for monitoring the weight of their patients who then receive input from primary care facilities. The patients being treated with clozapine are regularly reviewed in the clozapine clinic with appropriate investigations. The presence of an on- site GP who liaises with specialists in other centers facilitates the appropriate referral of patients requiring specialist opinion on physical health issues. The provision of comprehensive primary care facilities is essential for the maintenance of sound physical health of long-stay psychiatric in- patients. This also promotes a mutually beneficial environment for the mental health teams, patients and the primary care team resulting in better patient-care. (Word Count- 331) Declaration of Interest- None.