Integrating General Health Care in Private Community Psychiatry Practice

Patientswith chronic mental illness have multiple health care needs. These patients,particularly those with schizophrenia, have higher incidences of heart diseaseand metabolic syndrome than the general population and show increased risks ofinfectious disease, pulmonary disease, and substance abuse. In order toeffectively monitor and treat these patients, psychiatric and general healthcare should be integrated as much as possible. This presentation describes therole of the psychiatrist in helping to maintain the physical health of his orher patients, including monitoring for weight gain and other cardiac riskfactors that may be increased by psychotropic medications, and explains theimportance of communication between psychiatrists and primary care physicians.