This book provides a comprehensive approach to the relationship between severe mental disorders and physical comorbidities. Patients with severe mental disorders face a significantly reduced life expectancy, compared to the general population, of up to 10-25 years. Factors associated with the high mortality rates in patients with severe mental disorders can be grouped into four categories: those related to the patients, to psychiatrists, to other non-psychiatrist medical doctors, and to the healthcare system. Each of these factors should become the target of specific and dedicated interventions in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality rate in patients with severe mental disorders.
The book is divided into four sections: The first one delves into the public health importance of comorbidity. The second section is dedicated to the pathogenesis of comorbidity. The third section addresses comorbidities of disorders of major public health importance. The closing section provides practical guidance on managing mental and physical comorbidities.
This book will be essential reading for psychiatrists, general practitioners, medical specialists, public health professionals, and anyone involved in the care and treatment of patients with severe mental disorders. It will also be a key resource for researchers and policymakers looking to develop effective strategies to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these conditions.