Improving the physical health of patients with schizophrenia: therapeutic nihilism or realism?

Schizophrenia is associated with a raised mortality due to both an increase in suicide and factors related to poor physical health. The increased rates of gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular disease in this population are likely to be due to high rates of smoking and obesity accompanied by a poor diet, lack of exercise and the side effects of medication. The evidence suggests that such risk factors in the schizophrenic population are largely ignored by the medical profession. Research to date has failed to address the health needs of this vulnerable population. Systematic research, with the aim of assessing the potential benefits of health improvement measures, should be a matter of priority.