Health and self-care practices of persons with schizophrenia.

Data on the self-care and health-related practices and health status of 22 outpatients with schizophrenia were collected from interviews using a series of health survey instruments and a review of patient records. The patients practiced fewer health-promoting behaviors than nonpsychiatric samples described in the literature and were at risk for premature death primarily due to over-eating and smoking. They were most similar to persons with chronic physical illness in their perception of the locus of control of their health. More than half of the patients had physical conditions requiring medical management.