Physical Health Literacy and Health-related Behaviors in Patients with Psychosis

Abstract

Objective This study compared the levels of knowledge of physical illnesses and patterns of health behaviors between patients with psychosis and the general population. Methods A total of 712 participants were included in the study; 292 patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder and 420 healthy controls matched for age and gender. Questionnaires were administered to study participants to determine the level of knowledge of chronic physical illnesses such as cancer, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus and health-related behavior. Results from the two study groups were compared to identify differences in knowledge of physical illness and health-related behaviors. Results Compared with healthy controls, patients with psychosis were less likely to undergo regular medical check-ups and engage in exercise. Patients with psychosis had poorer knowledge of physical illnesses, and were more likely to smoke, be overweight, or have diabetes. Patients with psychosis were significantly less likely to acknowledge the importance of early detection of cancer and controlling hypertension and diabetes, independent of education and type of medical insurance. Patients who smoked were significantly less likely to agree with the statement on the relationship between smoking and physical illnesses. Patients not undergoing regular medical check-ups were significantly less likely to agree with statements concerning the need for cancer screening. Conclusion Patients with psychosis demonstrated lower levels of knowledge of physical illnesses and a lack of understanding of preventive behaviors. Low levels of knowledge were associated with poor health-related behaviors. Education of physical health should be provided to patients with psychosis.

COVID-19 preventive behaviors among people with anxiety and depression: Findings from Japan

“…It has been suggested that individuals with serious mental illness may be especially at risk for coronavirus exposure and infection (Shinn and Viron, 2020). In particular, the effects of factors such as socioeconomic disadvantage and lower health literacy, as manifest in a lack of understanding of preventive health behaviors (Kim et al, 2019; Shinn and Viron, 2020), may be compounded by specific characteristics associated with mental disorders, such as hopelessness, that may hinder adherence to necessary health behaviors (Gehi et al, 2005). Difficulty in undertaking COVID-19-related preventive behaviors among those with mental health problems may have been further exacerbated during the ongoing pandemic by the novel nature of the disease itself, and the plethora of information (‘infodemic’) it has generated, both in conventional and social media, that has resulted in uncertainty and worry (Fiorillo and Gorwood, 2020).…”

<p>Knowledge of Prevention Measures and Information About Coronavirus in Romanian Male Patients with Severe Mental Illness and Severe Alcohol Use Disorder</p>

“…Both SMI and AUD are associated with important cognitive deficits, including executive dysfunction, making these patients more prone to impairments in goal formation, planning, attention, inhibition of response, or coordinating complex cognition. 24 , 25 In addition, people with SMI and AUD comprise a marginalized group 26 , 27 with lower educational attainment 28 , 29 and health literacy 30 , 31 on average, compared to the general population.…”

High Rates of Genetic Diagnosis in Psychiatric Patients with and without Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Toward Improved Genetic Diagnosis in Psychiatric Populations

“…It is difficult to definitively determine whether these associations are primary or secondary, given that psychiatric patients are known to have lower levels of health literacy, poorer physical health outcomes, and quality of life and that numerous psychotropic medications have significant side effects of weight gain. 5,55 –57 The prevalence of smoking has been shown to be higher in psychiatric populations, 58 which may account for the higher incidence of obstructive lung disease seen in this patient population. A very recent study demonstrated that psychiatric patients, particularly men with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and obesity, are at increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea and suggested that screening for obstructive sleep apnea should be mandatory in this patient population.…”