Risk Of Physical Health Problems Research Articles

Association Between Psychopathology and Physical Health Problems Among Youth in Residential Treatment

Youth in residential treatment settings often present with a complex combination of mental and physical health problems. Despite an emerging literature documenting significant associations between mental health and physical health, the relationship between these two areas of functioning has not been systematically examined in youth presenting to residential treatment. This study examines the association between youth psychopathology and physical health problems in a sample of 606 youth entering a large residential treatment program between 2003 and 2010. As a part of the intake process, youth psychopathology symptoms were assessed using the parent-report form of the Child Behavior Checklist, and youth physical health problems were assessed in a medical evaluation by a licensed child health professional. Results indicated that higher levels of youth psychopathology, particularly internalizing problems, were associated with greater risk for physical health problems and more prescription medications. Psychopathology comorbidity was also associated with physical health problems. These findings suggest an interplay between physical and mental health among youth entering residential treatment, highlighting the need for integrated assessment and intervention services that address psychological and medical needs within this population.

Back to basics: Informing the public of co-morbid physical health problems in those with mental illness

Those with mental illness are at increased risk of physical health problems. The current study aimed to examine the information available online to the Australian public about the increased risk and consequences of physical illness in those with mental health problems and the services available to address these co-morbidities. A structured online search was conducted with the search engine Google Australia (www.google.com.au) using generic search terms 'mental health information Australia', 'mental illness information Australia', 'depression', 'anxiety', and 'psychosis'. The direct content of websites was examined for information on the physical co-morbidities of mental illness. All external links on high-profile websites [the first five websites retrieved under each search term (n = 25)] were examined for information pertaining to physical health. Only 4.2% of websites informing the public about mental health contained direct content information about the increased risk of physical co-morbidities. The Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing site did not contain any information. Of the high-profile websites, 62% had external links to resources about physical health and 55% had recommendations or resources for physical health. Most recommendations were generic. Relative to the seriousness of this problem, there is a paucity of information available to the public about the increased physical health risks associated with mental illness. Improved public awareness is the starting point of addressing this health inequity.

Early community influence on young adult physical health: Race/ethnicity and gender differences

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the implications of childhood community contexts in the U.S. for physical health problems related to impaired metabolic conditions, and coronary/cardiovascular diseases during young adulthood. Data came from Waves 1 and 4 (1995 and 2008) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 11,845). Multilevel logistic-normal regression was used to examine the relative risk or odds ratios of physical health problems in young adulthood (2008), based on both 1990 census level and 1995 survey data. Childhood community disadvantage and minority concentration increased the risk of young adult obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. However, the influence of both community disadvantage and minority concentration on young adult physical health outcomes differed by race/ethnicity. Our findings clearly point to the increased risk of physical health problems related to coronary and cardiovascular diseases when a child is raised in an adverse and minority concentrated community. This influence of the community was pervasive and independent of family characteristics. Programs should combat adverse community conditions and enhance resiliencies of youth and families living in such communities.

Identification of nutritional risk by nursing staff in secure psychiatric settings: reliability and validity of St Andrew's Nutrition Screening Instrument

Nutrition screening is the first-line approach to addressing the nutritional needs of service users and has been recommended as best practice by several authoritative and regulatory bodies. A simple and comprehensive screening tool, the St Andrew's Nutrition Screening Instrument (SANSI), was developed for use in an inpatient secure psychiatric setting. The aim of this study was to test the screening tool for reliability and validity. This study identified SANSI as reliable and valid for use in secure psychiatric settings for adolescents and adults. This should give confidence to regulatory and commissioning organizations, that the nutritional risk for patients in an organization which serves a diverse mental health population is being correctly identified, raising staff awareness and allowing appropriate action to be planned.

The relationship between physical conditions and suicidal behavior among those with mood disorders

BackgroundThere has recently been increased interest in the relationship between physical illness, mental illness, and suicide. The present study utilizes a large community-based sample to investigate the association between certain physical conditions and suicidal behavior, among those with a history of a mood disorder. MethodsData came from the nationally representative German Health Survey (N=4181, age 18–65). Physical conditions were assessed by a general practice physician. DSM-IV mental disorders were assessed using a modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Among those with a lifetime mood disorders, suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts were assessed by self-report. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between physical conditions and suicidal behavior among those with a history of mood disorder. ResultsAnxiety and substance use disorders were significantly positively associated with suicidal behavior [OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.13–2.31 and 2.01, 95% 1.34–3.00, respectively]. After adjusting for anxiety and substance use disorders as well as sociodemographic variables, respiratory illness, hypertension, and number of physical disorders were significantly associated with suicidal behavior [AORs 1.72, 1.68, and 1.16, respectively]. LimitationsThe findings of this study are limited to adults with a history of a mood disorder. Personality disorders were not assessed. ConclusionThe present study suggests that among people with mood disorder, respiratory illnesses, hypertension, and number of physical conditions are associated with suicidal behavior independent of the effects of comorbid mental illness. Clinicians should recognize the contributing risk of physical health problems to suicidal behavior.

Health behaviour beliefs and physical health risk factors for cardiovascular disease in an outpatient sample of consumers with a severe mental illness: A cross-sectional survey

Consumers with a mental illness have a significantly higher risk of physical health problems than the general population. The role of health behaviour beliefs and their part in the health of consumers with a mental illness has been poorly explored in the literature. To understand the relationship between physical health risk factors and health behaviour beliefs in consumers with schizophrenia. A cross-sectional survey study design using the European Health and Behaviour Survey and assessing (n=99) consumer's blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index, smoking history, exercise levels, demographics, family history of diabetes and cardiovascular disease was used. The study was conducted in a 76-bed psychiatric facility located within a 550-bed metropolitan generalist hospital in Sydney, Australia. Patients attending an outpatient clozapine clinic at the mental health service were asked to participate in the survey by a nurse working in the clinic during the study period. Of the 163 consumers asked to be involved in the study, n=99 agreed to participate. Mean waist circumference and body mass index for both males and females were significantly above normal population limits. Overall, consumer's beliefs toward their health on the European Health and Behaviour Survey were positive, having statistically significantly more positive attitudes to the statements 'avoiding too much sugar', 'drinking no alcohol' and 'yearly blood pressure checks' than a previously published non-mental health consumer sample. Whilst having positive attitude toward their healthcare, consumers' physical health risk parameters were higher than general population norms. Consumers with a mental illness have a significantly higher risk for serious physical health problems, yet possess high positive attitudes toward their physical health care. Models of care need to explore this contradiction within mental health services to improve patient outcomes.

Maternal Perception of Weight Status and Health Risks Associated With Obesity in Children

To examine factors associated with the maternal perception of the weight status in related and unrelated children and to examine whether associated health risks for children's physical and mental health are recognized. Two hundred nineteen mothers with children between 3 and 6 years of age took part in this study. The participating mothers were recruited from inpatient clinics and kindergartens. Parents were presented with 9 silhouettes representing different age- and gender-specific BMI percentiles. Demographic and weight-related variables were assessed with regard to their influence on the accuracy of the maternal weight estimation in general and for their own child. Of the participating mothers, 64.5% identified the overweight silhouettes of preschool-aged children correctly. However, only 48.8% of the mothers identified the overweight silhouettes associated with an increased risk for physical health problems, and 38.7% identified the silhouettes associated with an increased mental health risk. Mothers with a lower educational background were more likely to misclassify the overweight silhouettes and underestimate the associated health problems. For their own child, only 40.3% of the mothers chose silhouettes that were in agreement with the objective weight status of their child. This underestimation was associated with a higher maternal and child weight status but not with a general inability to identify the weight status of children. Identifying unrelated overweight silhouettes is influenced by maternal education level, whereas estimating their own child's weight status is influenced by the weight status of the mother and the child. Hence, feedback on the child's risk to become overweight is necessary to increase maternal risk awareness and willingness to take part in prevention programs.

Facing unpalatable truths: part 1

It is an unpalatable truth that 6% of young people with a diagnosis of psychosis kill themselves.1 They do so early on in the course of the illness perhaps because they realise the line between ‘them’ and ‘us’ has blurred and the label of serious mental illness has not so much become sticky as stuck. The diagnosis and treatment often herald an increased risk of physical health problems and social exclusion through unemployment, poverty, and discrimination. It is an …

The Association Between Stressful Life Events and Asthma-Specific Quality of Life

PURPOSE: Exposure to stressful life events increases the risk for physical health problems in general, but has not been well studied in asthma specifically. We evaluated the relationship of a subset of stressful life events with asthma quality of life outcomes.

Caregiving as a risk factor for mortality: the Caregiver Health Effects Study.

There is strong consensus that caring for an elderly individual with disability is burdensome and stressful to many family members and contributes to psychiatric morbidity. Researchers have also suggested that the combination of loss, prolonged distress, the physical demands of caregiving, and biological vulnerabilities of older caregivers may compromise their physiological functioning and increase their risk for physical health problems, leading to increased mortality. To examine the relationship between caregiving demands among older spousal caregivers and 4-year all-cause mortality, controlling for sociodemographic factors, prevalent clinical disease, and subclinical disease at baseline. Prospective population-based cohort study, from 1993 through 1998 with an average of 4.5 years of follow-up. Four US communities. A total of 392 caregivers and 427 noncaregivers aged 66 to 96 years who were living with their spouses. Four-year mortality, based on level of caregiving: (1) spouse not disabled; (2) spouse disabled and not helping; (3) spouse disabled and helping with no strain reported; or(4) spouse disabled and helping with mental or emotional strain reported. After 4 years of follow-up, 103 participants (12.6%) died. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, prevalent disease, and subclinical cardiovascular disease, participants who were providing care and experiencing caregiver strain had mortality risks that were 63% higher than noncaregiving controls (relative risk [RR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-2.65). Participants who were providing care but not experiencing strain (RR, 1.08; 95 % CI, 0.61-1.90) and those with a disabled spouse who were not providing care (RR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.73-2.58) did not have elevated adjusted mortality rates relative to the noncaregiving controls. Our study suggests that being a caregiver who is experiencing mental or emotional strain is an independent risk factor for mortality among elderly spousal caregivers. Caregivers who report strain associated with caregiving are more likely to die than noncaregiving controls.

Physical health problems in depressed and nondepressed children and adolescents of parents with opiate dependence

The increased risk of physical health problems in adult depressed patients has been shown in numerous studies. A recent study of the offspring of depressed parents found similar associations. The purpose of this study is to examine the strength and specificity of the association between depression and physical health problems in children and adolescents whose parents are dependent upon opiates. The sample consisted of offspring ages 6-17 (mean age 11 years) of opiate addicts who had a history of major depressive disorder (MDD; n = 28); other mood disorders (n = 31); no history of mood disorders but other psychiatric disorders (n = 92); or no history of psychiatric disorder (n = 127). Detailed psychiatric assessment and medical history of the offspring by direct interview with the offspring and an informant were obtained blind to parental diagnosis. After controlling for possible confounders, there was an increased risk of dermatological disorders, headache, other neurological/neuromuscular disorders, bronchitis, other respiratory disorders and hospitalizations for nonsurgical procedures in offspring with MDD, as compared to nonpsychiatrically ill controls. The offspring with other mood disorders had a slightly elevated risk. Major depression in children and adolescents whose parents are dependent on opiates is associated with increased risk of physical health problems. This finding is consistent with other reports and the timing of the physical health problems requires further study.