Physical illness in chronic psychiatric patients from a community psychiatric unit revisited. A three-year follow-up study.

A group of 156 psychiatric patients from an urban community psychiatric unit for chronic psychiatric patients was routinely medically screened and reported on. Re-evaluation of the medical diseases found in those patients was carried out three years later. Those who were still being treated--73 patients (47%)--were interviewed, as were their psychiatrist and, where necessary, their general practitioner (GP). The implementation of medical recommendations given following the physical screening by the specialist in internal medicine was also assessed. Re-evaluation of the diagnoses confirmed that 36% of this population had one or more physical diseases, rather than the 53% found earlier. The results show that the majority of physical complaints and diseases as well as functional illnesses were as persistent as the psychiatric diagnoses in this patient group. The patients' GP seems to be the person best suited as the primary physician responsible for the patient's physical health.