BACKGROUND: There is an increased prevalence of physical illness and poor lifestyle in patients with chronic schizophrenia. It is unclear whether these are present at the onset of psychosis or develop over the course of illness. We aimed to establish whether patients experiencing their first episode of psychosis have worse physical health and lifestyle than community controls without psychosis. METHOD: Eighty-nine patients with new onset illness were compared to age and sex matched controls for self-reported physical illness and cardiovascular and respiratory risk factors. RESULTS: Patients reported more physical health complaints, mainly respiratory, compared with age and gender matched controls (odds ratio 2.85, 95% confidence interval 1.2-6.7). Patients were more likely to be cigarette smokers (1.82, 95% CI 1.0-3.3) and eat a fast food diet (1.04, 95% CI 1.0-1.1), but these differences were accounted for by patients' unemployment status. CONCLUSIONS: Some risk factors for physical health problems are present at the onset of psychosis, but these may be explained by unemployment.
BACKGROUND: There is an increased prevalence of physical illness and poor lifestyle in patients with chronic schizophrenia. It is unclear whether these are present at the onset of psychosis or develop over the course of illness. We aimed to establish whether patients experiencing their first episode of psychosis have worse physical health and lifestyle than community controls without psychosis. METHOD: Eighty-nine patients with new onset illness were compared to age and sex matched controls for self-reported physical illness and cardiovascular and respiratory risk factors. RESULTS: Patients reported more physical health complaints, mainly respiratory, compared with age and gender matched controls (odds ratio 2.85, 95% confidence interval 1.2-6.7). Patients were more likely to be cigarette smokers (1.82, 95% CI 1.0-3.3) and eat a fast food diet (1.04, 95% CI 1.0-1.1), but these differences were accounted for by patients' unemployment status. CONCLUSIONS: Some risk factors for physical health problems are present at the onset of psychosis, but these may be explained by unemployment.
Authors: Craig Morgan; Paola Dazzan; Kevin Morgan; Peter Jones; Glynn Harrison; Julian Leff; Robin Murray; Paul Fearon Journal: World Psychiatry Date: 2006-02 Impact factor: 49.548
Authors: K R Fontaine; M Heo; E P Harrigan; C L Shear; M Lakshminarayanan; D E Casey; D B Allison Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2001-04-15 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Robin G McCreadie; Ciara Kelly; Moira Connolly; Sue Williams; Gwen Baxter; Michael Lean; John R Paterson Journal: Br J Psychiatry Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 9.319
Authors: Nicholas Myles; Hannah Newall; Michael T Compton; Jackie Curtis; Olav Nielssen; Matthew Large Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2011-09-08 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Maria Hedelin; Marie Löf; Marita Olsson; Tommy Lewander; Björn Nilsson; Christina M Hultman; Elisabete Weiderpass Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2010-05-26 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Heidi Honkonen; Aino K Mattila; Klaus Lehtinen; Teemu Elo; Riina Haataja; Matti Joukamaa Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2008-05-13 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Kim Donoghue; Ian Medley; John Brewin; Cristine Glazebrook; Peter Mason; Roch Cantwell; Peter B Jones; Glynn Harrison; Gillian A Doody Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2009-12-31 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Emily G Severance; Faith B Dickerson; Raphael P Viscidi; Ioannis Bossis; Cassie R Stallings; Andrea E Origoni; Anne Sullens; Robert H Yolken Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2009-06-02 Impact factor: 9.306