Chronic disease health risk behaviours amongst people with a mental illness

Abstract BackgroundPeople with severe mental illness (SMI) die earlier than the general population, primarily due to physical disorders. There is limited information on physical illnesses and health-risk behaviours in people with SMI in low and middle-income countries.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey in adults with SMI attending specialist mental health services in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Data were collected on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), their risk factors, health-risk behaviours, treatments and health risk modification advice (using questions from the WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance of NCDs (STEPS)) and on common mental disorders, health-related quality of life and infectious diseases. We performed a descriptive analysis, and compared weighted prevalence for these variables in our survey with prevalence for the general population in the STEPS reports from Bangladesh and Pakistan.ResultsWe recruited 2,344 participants with bipolar disorder (36.7%), non-affective psychosis (42.2%), and depression with psychosis (21.1%). Eight percent had diabetes, 24.7% hypertension and 3.1% tuberculosis. 43.4% were overweight or obese, and half had hypercholesterolemia. Most participants with diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were previously undiagnosed; of those diagnosed only around half were receiving treatment. Fifty-four percent of men and 17.2% of women used tobacco; 46.9% and 87.1% did not meet WHO recommendations for physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake respectively. Compared with the general population, people with SMI were more likely to have diabetes (O.R.=1.56,95%C.I.=1.30 to 1.88 Bangladesh), hypercholesterolemia (O.R.=2.35,95%C.I.=2.08 to 2.65 Bangladesh) and overweight or obesity (O.R.=1.97, 95%C.I.=1.75 to 2.22 Bangladesh; O.R.=1.61,95%C.I.=1.40 to 1.86 Pakistan). They were less likely to receive tobacco cessation (O.R.=0.33,95%C.I.=0.26 to 0.42 Bangladesh; O.R.=0.42,95%C.I.=0.31 to 0.55 Pakistan), and weight management advice (O.R.=0.51,95%C.I.=0.41 to 0.63 Bangladesh; and O.R.=0.65,95%C.I.=0.51 to 0.82 Pakistan).ConclusionDespite the high prevalence we found significant gaps in detection, prevention and treatment of NCDs and their risk factors in people with SMI.RegistrationISRCTN88485933; https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN88485933

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Promising evidence for nutrition interventions in people with serious mental illness

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.116.193318 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 210 (2) ◽

pp. 94-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nick Meader

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Health Risk ◽

Serious Mental Illness ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

Nutrition Interventions ◽

Unhealthy Eating ◽

Health Risk Behaviours

SummaryPeople with serious mental illness (SMI) are more likely to engage in health risk behaviours such as unhealthy eating, physical inactivity and smoking. The review by Teasdale et al in this issue shows the potential for nutrition interventions to help people with SMI to manage their weight.

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Characteristics of participants utilising a telephone-based coaching service for chronic disease health risk behaviours: A retrospective examination comparing those with and without a mental health condition

Preventive Medicine Reports ◽

10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101123 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

pp. 101123 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tegan Bradley ◽

Kate Bartlem ◽

Elizabeth Campbell ◽

Paula Wye ◽

Chris Rissel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Health Risk ◽

Health Condition ◽

Mental Health Condition ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

Health Risk Behaviours ◽

Retrospective Examination

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A survey of the prevalence of modifiable health risk behaviours among carers of people with a mental illness

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-019-7577-4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jacqueline M. Bailey ◽

Tim W. Regan ◽

Kate M. Bartlem ◽

John H. Wiggers ◽

Paula M. Wye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Health Risk ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

Family Carers ◽

Harmful Alcohol ◽

Health Risk Behaviours

Abstract Background Family carers provide significant support to people with a mental illness; yet may experience poor mental and physical health themselves. Among limited research addressing the physical health of carers, studies of carers of people with dementia and young people with psychosis suggest increased risk of chronic diseases in conjunction with higher levels of potentially modifiable lifestyle risk behaviours. This exploratory study, conducted with carers of people with various mental illnesses, aimed to determine: carer prevalence of health risk behaviours (inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, inadequate physical activity, harmful alcohol consumption, and tobacco smoking); interest in changing ‘at risk’ behaviours; and potential associations of socio-demographic characteristics with risk status and interest in change. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among family carers of people with a mental illness (N = 144) residing in New South Wales, Australia. Analyses explored risk behaviour prevalence and interest in change, and associations with socio-demographic variables. Results Inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption was most prevalent (74.8%), followed by engaging in inadequate amounts of physical activity (57.6%); harmful alcohol consumption (36.3%) and smoking (11.8%). The majority of carers were interested in improving ‘at risk’ behaviours (56.3–89.2%), with the exception of alcohol consumption (41.5%). Previously or never married participants were more likely to consume inadequate amounts of fruits and/or vegetables compared to those married or cohabiting (Odds Ratio [OR]: 4.1, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.3–12.9, p = .02). Carers in the workforce were more likely to be engaging in inadequate physical activity (OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.2–5.7, p = .02); and male participants were more likely to engage in harmful alcohol consumption (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1–7.9, p = .03). Working carers were approximately five times more likely to report interest in improving their alcohol consumption (OR: 5.1, 95% CI: 1.3–20.5, p = .02) compared to those not currently in the workforce. Conclusions Results suggest high engagement in health risk behaviours among carers of people with a mental illness, particularly with regards to harmful alcohol consumption. Findings suggest a need to develop and implement chronic disease prevention strategies. Further research with larger representative samples is needed to confirm findings.

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Substance use treatment clinician attitudes to care for chronic disease health risk behaviours and associations of attitudes with care provision

Drug and Alcohol Review ◽

10.1111/dar.13044 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 232-237

Author(s):

Danika Tremain ◽

Megan Freund ◽

Jenny Bowman ◽

Luke Wolfenden ◽

Paula Wye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Health Risk ◽

Substance Use Treatment ◽

Care Provision ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

Health Risk Behaviours ◽

Clinician Attitudes

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The Associations between Health Risk Behaviours and Suicidal Ideation and Attempts in a Nationally Representative Sample of Young Adolescents

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/070674370705201007 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 52 (10) ◽

pp. 666-674 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Tracie O Afifi ◽

Brian J Cox ◽

Laurence Y Katz

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Health Risk ◽

Sexual Intercourse ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Female Adolescents ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

Young Adolescents ◽

Adolescent Boys ◽

Health Risk Behaviours ◽

Nationally Representative

Objective: To examine associations between health risk behaviours and suicidal ideation and attempts in Canadian adolescents aged 12 to 13 years. Young adolescents think about and attempt suicide. However, most existing research on suicide has been conducted on individuals aged 15 years and older. Method: The present study examined a nationally representative Canadian sample of adolescents aged 12 to 13 years ( n = 2090). Health risk behaviours included disruptive (shoplifting, physical fighting, damaging property, fighting with a weapon, carrying a knife, and gambling), sexual (petting below the waist and sexual intercourse), and substance use behaviours (smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol, marijuana or hash, and glue or solvents). Unadjusted and adjusted (for all significant health risk behaviour and psychiatric symptoms) models were tested. Results: All health risk behaviours were common among male and female adolescents. In unadjusted models, almost all health risk behaviours were associated with suicidal ideation and attempts among adolescent boys. In adjusted models, only damaging property, sexual intercourse, and smoking cigarettes remained statistically associated with suicidal ideation, while smoking cigarettes and using marijuana or hash remained statistically associated with suicide attempts among adolescent boys. All health risk behaviours were statistically associated with suicidal ideation and attempts among female adolescents in unadjusted models. In adjusted models, only carrying a knife remained statistically associated with suicidal ideation, while shoplifting and gambling remained statistically associated with suicide attempts among adolescent girls. Conclusions: Health risk behaviours among young adolescents are associated with suicidal ideation and attempts among young adolescents. Recognizing health risk behaviours among young adolescents may be one means of understanding who among them is at increased risk of suicidality.

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