Literature review using systematic approaches to explore physical illness co-morbidity among people with serious mental illness and related healthcare interventions

Abstract

International evidence indicates that the physical health of Mental Health Service Users (MHSUs), especially those with serious mental illness (SMI)1 , is often suboptimal (Parks et al., 2006; DeHert et al., 2011). Over the past number of years, physical illness co-morbidity (from here on referred to as ‘co-morbidity’) in people with SMI, has become an area of concern for key stakeholders such as policy makers, healthcare practitioners, healthcare providers, service users and family. Aim/objective The aim of this project was to bring together the available and relevant published literature on physical illness co-morbidity in adults aged between 18 and 65 years with SMI, and related healthcare interventions. Method Robust systematic review methodological approaches were adopted with a focus on studies reporting on populations of people with SMIs and commonly occurring comorbidities.

 Population: Individuals, 18 to 65 years, diagnosed with a SMI  Exposure: Individuals with physical ill-health co-morbidities and commonly associated biological and lifestyle risk factors  Intervention/Comparators: Studies reporting on any intervention to promote physical health or treat physical ill-health co-morbidities in people with SMI  Outcomes: Prevalence rates of physical ill-health co-morbidities, prevalence rates of biological and lifestyle risk factors, correlations between risk factors and co-morbid conditions, and effectiveness of any interventions or treatments  Study types: Retrospective and prospective observational cohort studies, cross-sectional surveys, non-randomised studies, randomised studies and systematic reviews